Shloka 4

Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply

Devanagari script

नमस्कृत्योपजग्मुस्ते लोकवृद्धं पितामहम्‌ । परिवार्य च विश्वेशं पर्यासत दिवौकस:

Transliteration

namaskṛtyopajagmus te lokavṛddhaṃ pitāmaham | parivārya ca viśveśaṃ paryāsata divaukasaḥ ||

Translation

وہ سب دیوتا جہانوں کے بزرگ پِتامہ برہما کے پاس گئے۔ سجدۂ تعظیم کے بعد، ربِّ کائنات کو چاروں طرف سے گھیر کر اہلِ سُرگ وہاں بیٹھ گئے—گویا اعلیٰ نظمِ دھرم کے حضور عاجزی سے رہنمائی کے طالب ہوں۔

Word by Word

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• उपजग्मुः: they approached/went near
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम् (गम् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), 3, plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• लोकवृद्धम्: the world-elder (most venerable in the worlds)
• लोकवृद्धम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकवृद्ध
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पितामहम्: the grandsire (Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• परिवार्य: having surrounded/encircled
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ (वृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

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

• विश्वेशम्: the lord of the universe
• विश्वेशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेश
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पर्यासत: they sat around
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + आस् (आस् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3, plural

• दिवौकसः: the gods (dwellers in heaven)
• दिवौकसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवौकस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• divaukasaḥ (the gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights humility and proper conduct: even the gods begin by offering respectful salutations and then seek guidance from the cosmic elder, implying that right action (dharma) is grounded in reverence for wisdom and established order.

What is happening in the narrative?

The gods come to Brahmā (the Pitāmaha), bow to him, surround him, and sit down—signaling a formal assembly convened to consult him about unfolding events in the Udyoga Parva.