Shloka 96

Devanagari script

समयुज्यत कालेन भरतानां कुलोद्वह: । नृपश्रेष्ठट इस प्रकार भरतवंशका भार वहन करनेवाले शान्तनुनन्दन राजा भीष्म कालके अधीन हुए

Transliteration

samayujyata kālena bharatānāṁ kulodvahaḥ | nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ tathā śāntanunandanaḥ rājā bhīṣmaḥ kālasyādhīno 'bhavat ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：时至其时，婆罗多族系最卓越的擎柱——诸王之最、善檀奴之子毗湿摩——也与其命定之时相合；即便是他，也归于“时”（迦罗，Kāla）的主宰之下。此段强调一种伦理省思：无论何等伟业、誓愿或王者之德，都不能超越无常这一普遍法则。

Word by Word

• समायुज्यत: was joined/was subjected (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-युज्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, 3, singular

• कालेन: by Time
• कालेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• भरतानाम्: of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• कुलोद्वहः: the upholder of the lineage
• कुलोद्वहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल-उद्वह
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Śāntanu
• Bharata dynasty (Bharatāḥ)
• Kāla (Time)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the supremacy of Kāla (Time): even Bhīṣma—renowned for vows, virtue, and royal stature—ultimately becomes subject to Time. Ethically, it teaches humility and detachment, reminding readers that dharmic greatness does not exempt one from mortality and cosmic order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that, in the natural course of events, Bhīṣma—the chief support of the Bharata lineage and son of Śāntanu—reaches the moment appointed by Time, indicating his approaching end and the inevitable transition that follows even for the greatest figures.