Shloka 1

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

अपन क्रात बछ। अर: पज्चाशत्तमो<्ध्याय: श्रीकृष्णद्वारा भीष्मजीके गुण-प्रभावका सविस्तर वर्णन वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो रामस्य तत्‌ कर्म श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिर: । विस्मयं परमं गत्वा प्रत्युवाच जनार्दनम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato rāmasya tat karma śrutvā rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā pratyuvāca janārdanam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Bấy giờ vua Yudhiṣṭhira, nghe chuyện về kỳ công phi thường của Rāma (Paraśurāma), lòng tràn ngập kinh ngạc tột bậc, liền đáp lời Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). Câu kệ đặt nền cho một khoảnh khắc đạo-lý trong tự sự: sự kinh ngạc trước dũng lực khác thường trở thành dịp để truy vấn về đức hạnh, ảnh hưởng và cách hiểu đúng đắn về sự vĩ đại.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• रामस्य: of Rama (Parashurama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, same as main verb (युधिष्ठिरः)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परमम्: great/supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone/attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, same as main verb (युधिष्ठिरः)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied/answered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• जनार्दनम्: to Janardana (Krishna)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Rāma (Paraśurāma)
• Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic learning posture: extraordinary power or action should lead not to mere admiration but to thoughtful questioning and discernment. Yudhiṣṭhira’s wonder becomes the doorway to ethical reflection guided by Kṛṣṇa.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing about Paraśurāma’s remarkable deed, Yudhiṣṭhira is deeply astonished and turns to Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) to respond—setting up the ensuing discussion (in this chapter’s frame) about greatness, qualities, and their effects.