Shloka 50

Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)

Devanagari script

मधुच्छन्दश्व भगवान्‌ देवरातश्न वीर्यवान्‌ | अक्षीणश्न शकुन्तश्न बश्रु: कालपथस्तथा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | madhucchandaś ca bhagavān devarātaś ca vīryavān | akṣīṇaś ca śakuntaś ca babhruḥ kālapathas tathā | viśvāmitrātmajāḥ sarve munayo brahmavādinaḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩说：“圣者摩度旃陀斯（Madhucchandas）、勇力具足的提婆罗多（Devarata）、阿克希那（Akshina）、舍昆陀（Shakunta）、跋卜噜（Babhru）与迦罗钵他（Kalapatha）——确然，这一切圣贤，皆为毗湿瓦密多罗之子，都是宣说梵（Brahman）之人。”

Word by Word

• मधुच्छन्दाः: Madhuccandā (a sage)
• मधुच्छन्दाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुच्छन्दस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगवान्: venerable, blessed
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवरातः: Devarāta (a sage)
• देवरातः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवरात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वीर्यवान्: powerful, possessing valor
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अक्षीणः: Akṣīṇa (a sage)
• अक्षीणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षीण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शकुन्तः: Śakunta (a sage)
• शकुन्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुन्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बभ्रुः: Babhru (a sage)
• बभ्रुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बभ्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कालपथः: Kālapatha (a sage)
• कालपथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालपथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• विश्वामित्रात्मजाः: sons of Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रात्मजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र-आत्मज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्मवादिनः: expounders of Brahman / Vedic speakers
• ब्रह्मवादिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मवादिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Madhucchandas
• Devarata
• Akshina (Akṣīṇa)
• Shakunta (Śakunta)
• Babhru
• Kalapatha (Kālapatha)
• Vishvamitra (Viśvāmitra)
• Brahman (as doctrine/ultimate reality)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the spiritual authority of a recognized rishi-lineage: those who are 'brahmavādins' (teachers of Brahman/Vedic truth) lend weight to dharmic instruction. By naming them, Bhishma signals that ethical guidance should be grounded in trustworthy tradition and realized knowledge.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma is enumerating revered sages—identified as sons of Vishvamitra—characterizing them as brahmavādins. This functions as an appeal to authoritative exemplars while continuing his discourse on dharma.