Shloka 7

Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant

Devanagari script

द्वियमाणं तु तं दृष्टवा गौतम: संशिततव्रत: । अभ्यभाषत राजानं धृतराष्ट्र महातपा:

Transliteration

dviyamāṇaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā gautamaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ | abhyabhāṣata rājānaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭra mahātapāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“见他如此困厄而踌躇不定，誓戒精严的大苦行者乔多摩便对持国王开口说道。”

Word by Word

• द्वियमाणम्: being tormented/afflicted
• द्वियमाणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि-यम् (द्वियमान) / यम् (धातु) + द्वि- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संशितव्रतः: one of sharpened/austere vows
• संशितव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke to/addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धृतराष्ट्रम्: Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महातपाः: the great ascetic
• महातपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातपस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Gautama
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical instruction as timely counsel: when a ruler is shaken by doubt or sorrow, a disciplined sage should speak to restore steadiness and reorient him toward dharma and responsible kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that the ascetic Gautama notices Dhṛtarāṣṭra in a troubled, wavering state and then directly addresses him, setting up a didactic speech meant to guide the king.