Shloka 1

Pūjya-namaskārya-prakaraṇa

On Those Worthy of Honor and Salutation

Devanagari script

ऑपन--माज बछ। अप ऋाल आज एकोनत्रिशो& ध्याय: मतड़की तपस्या और इन्द्रका उसे वरदान देना भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तो मतड़स्तु संशितात्मा यतव्रत: । सहस्रमेकपादेन ततो ध्याने व्यतिष्ठत

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | evam ukto mataṅgas tu saṃśitātmā yatavrataḥ | sahasram ekapādena tato dhyāne vyatiṣṭhata ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: Nang masabihan nang gayon, ang pantas na si Mataṅga—matatag ang isip at mahigpit sa panata—ay tumindig sa malalim na pagninilay sa loob ng isang libong taon, nakatindig sa iisang paa. Itinatampok ng siping ito ang huwarang asal ng di-matitinag na pagpipigil-sa-sarili: kapag sinusubok o tinuturuan ng mas mataas na kapangyarihan, hindi pakikipagtalo ang tugon, kundi mas maigting na disiplina sa loob at walang pag-urong na pag-aayuno at pagninilay.

Word by Word

• {'bhīṣma uvāca': 'Bhishma said', 'evam': 'thus, in this manner', 'uktaḥ': 'spoken to, addressed', 'mataṅgaḥ': 'Mataṅga (a sage/ascetic)', 'tu': 'but, indeed', 'saṃśita-ātmā': 'one whose self/mind is well-restrained

• disciplined in spirit', 'yata-vrataḥ': 'one of controlled vows

• observing strict restraints', 'sahasram': 'a thousand', 'eka-pādena': 'with one foot

• standing on a single foot', 'tataḥ': 'then, thereafter', 'dhyāne': 'in meditation, contemplation', 'vyatiṣṭhata': 'stood firm

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Mataṅga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that true spiritual and ethical strength is shown through disciplined self-restraint (saṃśitātmā, yatavrataḥ) and unwavering perseverance in austerity and meditation, especially when one is challenged or instructed.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being addressed (contextually by a higher authority), the sage Mataṅga intensifies his resolve and undertakes a severe penance: he stands on one foot and remains absorbed in meditation for a thousand years.