Shloka 1

Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)

Devanagari script

2 अं ड-ऑ का त्रिशर्दाधिकशततमो<्ध्याय: अरुन्धती

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | tatastvṛṣigaṇāḥ sarve pitaraś ca sadevatāḥ | arundhatīṃ tapovṛddhām apṛcchanta samāhitāḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩曰：其后，诸仙众与祖灵（Pitṛs）及诸天同来，趋近阿伦达蒂——以苦行而德力增长者——众心寂定，向她请问，欲从其口中得闻达摩最深之秘。

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तु: but/indeed (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• ऋषि-गणाः: groups of sages
• ऋषि-गणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि-गण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पितरः: the Pitrs/ancestors
• पितरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• देवताḥ: deities
• देवताḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• स-देवताः: together with the deities
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-देवत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अरुन्धतीम्: Arundhati
• अरुन्धतीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुन्धती
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तपः-वृद्धाम्: advanced in austerity
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्-वृद्धा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अपृच्छन्: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Imperfect (Anadyatana-bhuta), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• समाहिताः: collected, attentive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Arundhatī
• Ṛṣis
• Pitṛs
• Devatās

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is presented as a subtle ‘secret’ best approached through humility and disciplined attention, by seeking guidance from one established in tapas and moral authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that sages, ancestors (Pitṛs), and gods collectively approach Arundhatī and, with focused minds, question her to learn the deepest principles of dharma.