Shloka 7

Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)

Devanagari script

ऋषीणां देवतानां च वंशांस्तावाहतु: सदा । प्रीयमाणौ महात्मानौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ

Transliteration

ṛṣīṇāṃ devatānāṃ ca vaṃśāṃs tāv āhatuḥ sadā | prīyamāṇau mahātmānau purāṇāv ṛṣisattamau ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：那二位乃古昔的大心圣者，诸仙之中最为卓越者，彼此常怀深情。于谈话之间，他们不断追述诸天与诸仙的谱系，也描绘战争的奇异传闻与由此而起的艰难困苦，使记忆、传统与冲突的道德代价并陈于前。

Word by Word

• ऋषीणाम्: of sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• देवतानाम्: of deities
• देवतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

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

• वंशान्: lineages, dynasties
• वंशान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• आहुः: they said / used to speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (अहति/आह)
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Plural

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• प्रीयमाणौ: being pleased / loving (each other)
• प्रीयमाणौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्री (धातु) → प्रीयमाण (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/आत्मनेपद)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महात्मानौ: the two great-souled ones
• महात्मानौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• पुराणौ: ancient
• पुराणौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• ऋषिसत्तमौ: the two best of sages
• ऋषिसत्तमौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि-सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Devatās (gods)
• Vaṃśas (lineages/dynasties)
• Yuddha (war)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical function of sacred conversation: preserving lineage-traditions (vaṃśa) and remembering the human cost of war. Affectionate, truthful dialogue among the wise becomes a vehicle for transmitting dharma—both through ancestral memory and through sober reflection on conflict and suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes two ancient, eminent sages who are close friends. They regularly converse about the genealogies of gods and sages, and they also recount remarkable war-episodes and the hardships connected with them.