Shloka 4

Devanagari script

जनमेजयने पूछा--विप्रवर! कुरुकुलके धुरन्धर वीर भीष्मजी जब वीरोंके सोनेयोग्य बाणशय्यापर सो गये और पाण्डवलोग उनकी सेवामें उपस्थित रहने लगे

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: abhūn muhūrta-stimitaṁ sarvaṁ tad rāja-maṇḍalam | tṛṣṇī-bhūte tatas tasmin paṭe citram ivārpitam ||

Translation

毗湿摩讲毕法义而归于沉默时，毗舍波耶那说道：整个王廷集会顷刻间一动不动——寂然无声，仿佛一幅绘在布上的画面，被定格在那里。

Word by Word

• अभूत्: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment/for a short time
• मुहूर्तम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• स्तिमितम्: motionless, still
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तिमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• राजमण्डलम्: the assembly of kings/royal circle
• राजमण्डलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• तृष्णीभूते: when (he/it) had become silent
• तृष्णीभूते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृष्णीभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: locative (agreeing with तस्मिन्), locative, singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• तस्मिन्: in that (time/condition/person)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine/neuter, locative, singular

• पटे: on a cloth/canvas
• पटे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• चित्रम्: a picture
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)

• अर्पितम्: placed/depicted, set
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Bhīṣma
• rāja-maṇḍala (royal assembly)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and spiritual gravity of dharma-instruction: after profound teaching, silence and stillness arise naturally, signaling reverence, contemplation, and the court’s recognition that dharma is not merely heard but inwardly assimilated.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Bhīṣma finishes speaking and becomes silent, the entire royal gathering remains motionless for a time—likened to a painted image on cloth—showing collective awe and reflective pause before the next action in the dialogue.