Shloka 8
Āpad-dharma and Discernment in Livelihood (आपद्धर्मे विज्ञानबलम्)
Devanagari script
त॑ं धर्मराजो दृष्ट्वैव सत्कृत्यैव द्विजर्षभम् | न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मेण क्रियतां किमिति ब्रुवन्
Transliteration
taṁ dharmarājo dṛṣṭvaiva satkṛtyaiva dvijarṣabham | nyamantrayad dharmeṇa kriyatāṁ kim iti bruvan ||
Translation
法王阎摩一见那位最胜的婆罗门，便即刻以礼相待。继而依于法度相请，说道：“当为你作何事？可要我如何奉事？”
Word by Word
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
धर्मराजःthe king of dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira)
धर्मराजः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मराज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
सत्कृत्यhaving honored
सत्कृत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootसत्कृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
द्विजर्षभम्the best of the twice-born (excellent brāhmaṇa)
द्विजर्षभम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजर्षभ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
न्य्down/into; (prefix) ni-
न्य्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनि
Formupasarga separated from verb for sandhi resolution
आमन्त्रयत्invited/addressed
आमन्त्रयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootमन्त्र्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, नि + आ
धर्मेणwith propriety/righteously
धर्मेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
क्रियताम्let it be done / please be done
क्रियताम्:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormImperative (Loṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada, Karmani (passive)
किम्what
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
इतिthus/quoting
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
ब्रुवन्saying
ब्रुवन्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
भ
भीष्म (Bhīṣma)ध
धर्मराज / युधिष्ठिर (Dharmarāja / Yudhiṣṭhira)द
द्विजर्षभ (an eminent Brahmin; identified in the Hindi as गौतमक)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
A righteous king upholds dharma through immediate respect and proper hospitality toward a learned Brahmin, asking what service is needed and welcoming ethical discourse.
Bhīṣma narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, upon seeing an eminent Brahmin (noted as Gautama in the Hindi gloss), honors him and formally invites him, asking what should be done for him and opening the way for discussion on dharma.