Shloka 17

Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)

Devanagari script

मत्ते गजे गोवृषभे नरेन्द्र सिंहासने सत्पुरुषेषु नित्यम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | matte gaje govṛṣabhe narendra-siṃhāsane satpuruṣeṣu nityam | yatra gṛhe agnau āhutīḥ kriyante, gāvo brāhmaṇāś ca devāś ca pūjyante, kāle kāle ca yatra puṣpair devatābhyo upahārāḥ samarpitāḥ, tasmin gṛhe ahaṃ nityaṃ vasāmi |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“我恒常居于有骄雄之象、有群牛之中卓然之牡牛、有国王端坐王座、并有贤善之士居住之处。我亦永住于那样的家宅：人们依礼向圣火倾注供献，尊敬母牛与婆罗门，礼拜诸天，并在适当之时以花为礼奉献神明。”

Word by Word

• मत्ते: in/among the intoxicated (one)
• मत्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (मत्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गजे: in an elephant
• गजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गोवृषभे: in a bull (of cows), i.e., a bull
• गोवृषभे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवृषभ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नरेन्द्र: in a king (lord of men)
• नरेन्द्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सिंहासने: on a throne
• सिंहासने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंहासन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सत्पुरुषेषु: among good men / virtuous persons
• सत्पुरुषेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम्

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• elephant (gaja)
• bull (go-vṛṣabha)
• king (narendra)
• throne (siṃhāsana)
• virtuous persons (satpuruṣa)
• sacred fire (agni)
• oblations (āhuti)
• cows (gāvaḥ)
• Brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ)
• gods/deities (devāḥ/devatāḥ)
• flowers (puṣpāṇi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that auspiciousness and moral stability abide where strength is disciplined by dharma: noble leadership (king on the throne), righteous power (bull/elephant as symbols), and the presence of virtuous people, supported by regular Vedic rites and reverence for cows, Brahmins, and the gods.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on conduct (anuśāsana), he describes the marks of a blessed and dharmic dwelling—one sustained by ritual offerings, proper worship, and the company of the virtuous—indicating where divine favor and prosperity are said to reside.