Shloka 1

कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च

The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion

Devanagari script

अपर बछ। ] अति्ऑकशाड< त्रिचत्वारिशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: शरणागतकी रक्षा करनेके विषयमें एक बहेलिये और कपोत-कपोतीका प्रसंग

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: Pitāmaha mahāprājña sarvaśāstra-viśārada | śaraṇaṃ pālayānasya yo dharmas taṃ vadasva me ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O lolo’t ninuno, napakatalino at bihasa sa lahat ng śāstra, ipahayag mo sa akin: ano ang dharma—at anong kabutihang bunga—ang napapasa sa taong nagtatanggol sa nilalang na lumalapit upang humingi ng kanlungan?”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वशास्त्रविशारद: O expert in all śāstras
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वशास्त्रविशारद
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शरणम्: refuge/shelter
• शरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पालयानस्य: of (one) protecting
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत्
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma/merit/duty
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वदस्व: tell/say
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a central ethical inquiry of Śānti Parva: the duty (dharma) and spiritual merit involved in protecting one who seeks refuge (śaraṇāgata). It treats asylum and protection of the helpless as a high moral obligation worthy of scriptural clarification.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma, acknowledging his vast learning, and asks him to explain what dharma applies to a protector of a refuge-seeker. This question introduces the ensuing instruction and illustrative story about safeguarding the surrendered.