Shloka 72

Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्

Devanagari script

बालादित्यवपु:प्रख्यै: पुष्करैरुपशोभिताम्‌ । वैदूर्यवर्णसदृशै: पद्मपत्रैरथावृताम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | bālādityavapuḥprakhyaiḥ puṣkarair upaśobhitām | vaidūryavarṇasadṛśaiḥ padmapatrair athāvṛtām |

Translation

Bhishma nói: Hồ nước ấy được trang hoàng bằng những đóa sen có thân sắc rực như màu của mặt trời non buổi sớm; lại còn được phủ khắp bốn bề bởi những lá sen óng ánh như sắc vaidūrya (ngọc mắt mèo). Cảnh tượng gợi nên một không gian thanh tịnh, cát tường—hàm ý sự an nhiên, minh triết và bầu khí đạo đức trong đó người ta chiêm nghiệm về dharma.

Word by Word

• बालादित्यवपुःप्रख्यैः: by (lotuses) resembling the body/lustre of the rising sun
• बालादित्यवपुःप्रख्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बालादित्य-वपुस्-प्रख्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पुष्करैः: with lotuses
• पुष्करैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• उपशोभिताम्: adorned/beautified
• उपशोभिताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शोभित (शोभ्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वैदूर्यवर्णसदृशैः: with (leaves) similar in color to vaidūrya (cat's-eye gem)
• वैदूर्यवर्णसदृशैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदूर्य-वर्ण-सदृश
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पद्मपत्रैः: with lotus-leaves
• पद्मपत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-पत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अथ: and/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आवृताम्: covered/surrounded
• आवृताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-वृत (वृ)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• lotuses (puṣkara/padma)
• lotus-leaves (padmapatra)
• vaidūrya gem (vaidūrya)
• lake/pond (implied setting)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily sets an auspicious, serene atmosphere through luminous natural imagery. Such descriptions in the Anuśāsana Parva often frame ethical instruction: purity, clarity, and beauty in the environment mirror the inner clarity needed for understanding and practicing dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is describing a lake/pond scene: dawn-colored lotuses beautify it, and gem-like lotus-leaves spread over it. This functions as a vivid setting detail, preparing the listener for the moral and didactic discourse characteristic of this parva.