Shloka 11

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

एतदर्थ महाराज पृष्ट: पार्थेन नारद: । ऋषिमध्ये महाभाग: शृण्वतो: कृष्णभीष्मयो:

Transliteration

etad-artha mahārāja pṛṣṭaḥ pārthena nāradaḥ | ṛṣi-madhye mahā-bhāgaḥ śṛṇvatoḥ kṛṣṇa-bhīṣmayoḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Tâu Đại vương, chính về việc ấy, giữa hội các bậc hiền triết, bậc hiển thánh Nārada đã được Pārtha (Arjuna) thỉnh hỏi, trong khi Kṛṣṇa và Bhīṣma đang lắng nghe.”

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (matter)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पृष्टः: was asked
• पृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पृच्छ्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थेन: by Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋषि-मध्ये: in the midst of sages
• ऋषि-मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि + मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महाभागः: the illustrious one
• महाभागः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शृण्वतोः: of the two who were listening
• शृण्वतोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• कृष्ण-भीष्मयोः: of Krishna and Bhishma
• कृष्ण-भीष्मयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nārada
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Bhīṣma
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Mahārāja (the king addressed, i.e., Janamejaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the authority and careful transmission of dharmic knowledge: a question is posed to a revered sage (Nārada) in a formal assembly, and the presence of eminent witnesses (Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma) underscores the seriousness and ethical weight of the inquiry.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana frames a remembered episode: Arjuna (Pārtha) asks Nārada about the same topic being discussed, in a gathering of sages, while Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma listen—signaling that what follows is a respected, multi-witnessed teaching.