Shloka 2

Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच परावरज्ञे धर्मज्ञे तपोवननिवासिनि । साध्वि सुभ्रु सुकेशान्ते हिमवत्पर्वतात्मजे

Transliteration

śrīmaheśvara uvāca | parāvarajñe dharmajñe tapovanani-vāsini | sādhvi subhru sukeśānte himavat-parvatātmaje ||

Translation

شری مہیشور نے کہا— اے برتر و فروتر حقائق کی جاننے والی، اے دھرم کی عارفہ، اے تپسیا کے بن میں رہنے والی! اے سادھوی، خوش ابرو، خوش گیسو، ہِمَوَت پہاڑ کی دختر!

Word by Word

श्रीमहेश्वरःthe venerable Maheshvara (Shiva)

उवाचsaid/spoke

परावरज्ञेO knower of higher and lower (things)

धर्मज्ञेO knower of dharma

तपोवननिवासिनिO dweller in the forest of austerities

साध्विO virtuous lady

सुभ्रुO fair-browed one

सुकेशान्तेO one with beautiful hair-ends (lovely tresses)

हिमवत्पर्वतात्मजेO daughter of Himavat mountain

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Maheśvara (Śiva)

Himavat (Himalaya, personified mountain)

Pārvatī (implied by 'daughter of Himavat')

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models ethical reverence: true worth is linked to knowledge of dharma and disciplined austerity. By praising these qualities in the mountain-born goddess, the text elevates inner virtue and spiritual insight over mere status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śiva begins speaking and addresses Pārvatī with honorific epithets—acknowledging her spiritual knowledge, dharmic discernment, and ascetic dwelling—setting a respectful tone for the instruction or discourse that follows.