Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

अनृशंस शुचिं दान्तं सर्वभूतहिते रतम्‌ । महारथं त्वत्सदृशं न कंचिदनुशुश्रुम

Transliteration

anṛśaṃsa śuciṃ dāntaṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam | mahārathaṃ tvatsadṛśaṃ na kaṃcid anuśuśruma ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Ta chưa từng nghe có một đại xa chiến nào như ngài—không tàn bạo, thanh khiết trong hạnh, tự chế, và tận tâm vì lợi ích của hết thảy chúng sinh.”

Word by Word

• अनृशंसम्: non-cruel, compassionate
• अनृशंसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृशंस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शुचिम्: pure, clean
• शुचिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दान्तम्: self-controlled, restrained
• दान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वभूतहिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूतहित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रतम्: engaged, devoted
• रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महारथम्: great chariot-warrior
• महारथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्वत्सदृशम्: like you, similar to you
• त्वत्सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत्सदृश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• कञ्चित्: anyone (at all)
• कञ्चित्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुशुश्रुम: I have heard (of), I have learned
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• unnamed addressee (tvam: ‘you’)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises the ideal warrior-ruler as one whose greatness is measured not only by martial prowess (mahāratha) but by ethical virtues: non-cruelty, purity, self-restraint, and active commitment to the welfare of all beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a traditional commendation of an unnamed ‘you’—declaring that no other great warrior equal to him has been heard of, because he combines supreme martial status with exemplary moral character.