Shloka 16

Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman

Devanagari script

पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय तमेवार्थ विचिन्तयन्‌ । अध्यानं सो5तिचक्राम खेचर: खे चरज्निव

Transliteration

pitur vacanam ājñāya tam evārthaṁ vicintayan | adhyānaṁ so ’ticakrāma khecaraḥ khe carann iva ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Khi đã hiểu và thuận nhận mệnh lệnh của phụ thân, chàng chỉ chuyên tâm suy niệm đúng mục đích ấy. Chàng hoàn tất trọn cuộc hành trình bằng đôi chân, đi khắp mặt đất tự do và vững chãi như chim lượn giữa trời cao—biểu lộ sự vâng phục có kỷ luật và sự chuyên chú không lay chuyển vào điều cần biết và cần làm.

Word by Word

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वचनम्: command/word
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आज्ञाय: having known/understood
• आज्ञाय: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अर्थम्: meaning/purpose/matter
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विचिन्तयन्: reflecting/pondering
• विचिन्तयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अध्वानम्: journey/road/path
• अध्वानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिचक्राम: traversed/crossed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• खेचरः: sky-goer (bird)
• खेचरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• खे: in the sky
• खे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• चरन्: moving/roaming
• चरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like/as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• father (pituḥ)
• khecara (bird/sky-goer)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as disciplined obedience to a rightful parental command, coupled with single-pointed reflection on one’s purpose. Ethical steadiness is shown not by display, but by sustained, humble effort (walking the whole way) and unwavering focus.

What is happening in the narrative?

A person, having understood his father’s instruction, sets out and completes the journey on foot while continually contemplating the intended objective. His movement over the earth is compared to a bird’s effortless roaming in the sky, emphasizing freedom of movement joined with inner discipline.