Shloka 27

Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच भीष्मस्यैतद्‌ वचःश्रुत्वा विस्मिता: कुरुपुड्रवा: । आसन प्रहृष्टमनस: प्रीतिमन्तो5भवंस्तदा

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca: bhīṣmasyaitad vacaḥ śrutvā vismitāḥ kurupuṅgavāḥ | āsan prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ prītimanto 'bhavaṃs tadā ||

Translation

毗湿摩波罗衍那说道：听闻毗湿摩此言，俱卢族中最杰出者皆惊异不已；他们心中充满欢欣振奋，当时众人无不大悦。

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भीष्मस्य: of Bhīṣma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• विस्मिताः: astonished
• विस्मिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुरुपुङ्गवाः: the best of the Kurus
• कुरुपुङ्गवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुपुङ्गव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आसन्: were
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रहृष्टमनसः: whose minds were delighted
• प्रहृष्टमनसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्टमनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रीतिमन्तः: joyful/pleased
• प्रीतिमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतिमन्त्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभवन्: became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Kuru elders/foremost Kurus

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the authority and ethical weight of Bhīṣma’s instruction: when dharmic counsel is spoken well, wise elders respond with wonder and heartfelt approval, indicating communal validation of righteous guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, after Bhīṣma speaks, the leading Kurus listen and react—astonished and delighted—showing that Bhīṣma’s words have moved and convinced the assembly.