Shloka 19

Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच श्रुत्वैतद्‌ वचन शक्रो दानवेन्द्रमुखाच्च्युतम्‌ । द्विजान्‌ सम्पूजयामास महेन्द्रत्वमवाप च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca śrutvaitad vacanaṃ śakro dānavendramukhāccyutam | dvijān sampūjayāmāsa mahendratvam avāpa ca ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhishma: O Bharata, nang marinig ni Śakra (Indra) ang mga salitang ito na lumabas sa bibig ng panginoon ng mga Dānava (Śambara), pinarangalan niya ang mga Brahmin; at dahil sa gawaing iyon, natamo niya ang katayuang Mahendra. Ipinakikita ng talatang ito na ang paggalang sa mga marurunong at matuwid ay tuwirang sanhi ng dakilang paghahari at makalangit na kasaganaan.

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā), Active

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech, statement
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शक्रः: Shakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दानवेन्द्रमुखात्: from the mouth of the lord of Danavas
• दानवेन्द्रमुखात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानवेन्द्रमुख
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• च्युतम्: uttered, fallen forth (spoken)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्युत
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सम्पूजयामास: honoured, worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज्
• Form: Periphrastic perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महेन्द्रत्वम्: the status of Mahendra (lordship of Indra)
• महेन्द्रत्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्रत्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप: obtained, attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharata (address to the listener, i.e., Yudhishthira)
• Shakra (Indra)
• Danavendra (lord of the Danavas)
• Shambara
• Dvijas (Brahmins)
• Mahendra (status/title)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Honoring the dvijas (Brahmins/the Vedic learned) is presented as a powerful dharmic act that yields sovereignty and exalted status; Indra’s attainment of Mahendra-hood is linked causally to his respectful worship of Brahmins.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that Indra (Śakra), after hearing counsel spoken by the Danava-king Śambara, proceeded to honor the Brahmins; as a result of this dharmic conduct, he attained the rank and glory of Mahendra.