Shloka 34

Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa

Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results

Devanagari script

अथ तान्‌ द्विरद: वक्षित्‌ सुरेन्द्रद्धिदोपम:

Transliteration

atha tān dviradaḥ vakṣit surendraddhidopamaḥ

Translation

毗湿摩说道：于是那头雄伟的大象——光耀而威猛，宛如因陀罗——开口对他们说话，气势凛然，带着号令之威。

Word by Word

• अथ: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• द्विरदः: the elephant
• द्विरदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वक्षित्: spoke/said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Aorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुरेन्द्र-ध्वज-उपमः: like Indra's banner/standard
• सुरेन्द्र-ध्वज-उपमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरेन्द्रध्वजोपम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Indra
• Elephant (dvirada)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily sets tone rather than stating a doctrine: it frames speech as carrying moral and social weight when delivered by a figure marked by strength and ‘Indra-like’ splendour—suggesting that authority should be paired with purposeful counsel in the dharma-discourse that follows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates a transition: an elephant, described as possessing Indra-like majesty, begins to address a group (‘them’), indicating the start of a speech or instruction within the ongoing Anuśāsana-parvan dialogue.