Shloka 5

Chapter 85: Suvarṇasya Janma ca Pradāna-Phalam

The Origin of Gold and the Merit of Gifting

Devanagari script

इच्छाम त्वां वयं ज्ञातुं का त्वं क्व च गमिष्यसि । तत्त्वेन वरवर्णाभे सर्वमेतद्‌ ब्रवीहि न:

Transliteration

icchāma tvāṁ vayaṁ jñātuṁ kā tvaṁ kva ca gamiṣyasi | tattvena varavarṇābhe sarvam etad bravīhi naḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“我们愿真正认识你——你是谁，你将往何处去？噢，肤色明丽、光彩出众的女子，请将这一切如实、分明地告诉我们。”

Word by Word

• इच्छामः: we wish/desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (इच्छ्)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), 1, Plural, Parasmaipada

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: Tumun (Infinitive)

• का: who (f.)
• का: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• क्व: where
• क्व: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व

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

• गमिष्यसि: you will go
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), 2, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्त्वेन: in truth / truly
• तत्त्वेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वरवर्णाभे: O fair-complexioned one (of excellent color/beauty)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरवर्णाभा
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• ब्रवीहि: tell/say
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), 2, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नः: to us
• नः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• unnamed woman (addressed as varavarṇābhā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds truthful disclosure (tattvena) and careful inquiry: before judging or acting, one should seek accurate knowledge of a person’s identity and intention, and the other should respond with honesty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a woman respectfully and asks her to state plainly who she is and where she is headed, requesting a complete and truthful account.