Shloka 4
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
Devanagari script
राजा शत्रुंजयो नाम सौवीरेषु महारथ: । भारद्वाजमुपागम्य पप्रच्छार्थविनिश्चवयम्
Transliteration
rājā śatruñjayo nāma sauvīreṣu mahārathaḥ | bhāradvājam upāgamya papracchārtha-viniścayam ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“在苏毗罗人的国土上，有一位名叫沙特伦阇耶的国王，乃伟大的战车勇士。他前往拜见婆罗陀婆阇，请他明确裁定应当采取何种行动——应当遵行何种职责。”
Word by Word
राजाking
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शत्रुंजयःShatruñjaya (name)
शत्रुंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशत्रुंजय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नामby name / named
नाम:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनामन्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सौवीरेषुamong/in the Sauviras (Sauvira country/people)
सौवीरेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसौवीर
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
महारथःgreat chariot-warrior
महारथः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भारद्वाजम्Bharadvāja
भारद्वाजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभारद्वाज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उपागम्यhaving approached
उपागम्य:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-गम्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral in gerund)
पप्रच्छasked
पप्रच्छ:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-छ् (पृच्छ्)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अर्थ-विनिश्चयम्determination/decision of the matter (duty/purpose)
अर्थ-विनिश्चयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थविनिश्चय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaŚ
ŚatruñjayaB
BhāradvājaS
Sauvīra (country/people)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 ruler should seek clear determination of dharma and practical duty by approaching a qualified sage; ethical governance begins with humble inquiry and decisive understanding.
Bhīṣma introduces an illustrative episode: King Śatruñjaya of Sauvīra goes to the sage Bhāradvāja and asks him for a definitive judgment about what he ought to do.