Shloka 5

श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः

Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma

Devanagari script

तमासीन महाप्रज्ञमुशना वाक्यमब्रवीत्‌ । ब्रूहास्मे दानवेन्द्राय विष्णोमहित्म्यमुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

tam āsīnaṁ mahāprajñam uśanā vākyam abravīt | brūhāsme dānavendrāya viṣṇor māhātmyam uttamam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Khi đại hiền triết Sanatkumāra, bậc trí tuệ thâm sâu, đã an tọa thong dong, Uśanas (Śukrācārya) thưa rằng: “Bạch đấng tôn kính, xin Ngài thuật cho chúng con—để truyền dạy cho chúa tể Dānavas này—uy đức tối thượng của Đức Viṣṇu.”

Word by Word

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

• आसीनम्: seated
• आसीनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) → आसीन (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महाप्रज्ञम्: of great wisdom
• महाप्रज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उशना: Uśanā (Śukra)
• उशना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशनस् (उशना)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्रूहि: tell (you tell)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अस्मै: to him
• अस्मै: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• दानवेन्द्राय: to the lord of the Dānavas (demon-king)
• दानवेन्द्राय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानवेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Sanatkumara
• Ushanas (Shukracharya)
• Danava-king (Dānavendra)
• Vishnu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical power of śāstra-based instruction: seeking and proclaiming the supreme greatness of Vishnu is presented as a means to elevate understanding and align even powerful rulers (including Danavas) toward higher dharma through reverent knowledge.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanatkumara is seated; Shukracharya (Ushanas) approaches and requests that he narrate Vishnu’s supreme māhātmya, specifically so it can be conveyed to the Danava-king.