Shloka 1

Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya

Devanagari script

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ “लोक मिलाकर कुल ८९३ “लोक हैं) नम शा+ (0) आज अत+- सप्तषष्ट्यांधेकशततमो< ध्याय: धर्म

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: ity uktavati Bhīṣme tu tūṣṇīṁ-bhūte Yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | papracchāvasathaṁ gatvā bhrātṝn Vidura-pañcamān ||

Translation

毗湿摩说罢而默然。毗舍波耶那说道：于是，尤提士提罗回到自己的居所，向诸弟询问——并以毗度罗为第五人同在。此一幕在毗湿摩教诲之后形成沉思的停顿；尤提士提罗在亲近之人中求取箴言，以澄明关于达摩、阿尔塔与迦摩之事的正道。

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तवति: when (he) had spoken
• उक्तवति: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्तवत्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भीष्मे: in/when Bhīṣma (was)
• भीष्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तूष्णींभूते: having become silent
• तूष्णींभूते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तूष्णींभूत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• अवसथम्: the dwelling/house
• अवसथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• भ्रातॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विदुरम्: Vidura
• विदुरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदुर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पञ्चमम्: as the fifth
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Vidura
• Pāṇḍava brothers (the four younger brothers implied)
• avasatha (residence)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic method of decision-making: after receiving authoritative instruction (Bhīṣma), a ruler like Yudhiṣṭhira still seeks deliberation and counsel from trusted elders and kin (including Vidura), indicating that ethical governance requires reflection, consultation, and clarity before action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma has concluded a portion of his discourse and becomes silent. Yudhiṣṭhira returns to his residence and questions his brothers, counting Vidura as the fifth participant, setting up their separate viewpoints on dharma, artha, and kāma and leading toward Yudhiṣṭhira’s eventual decision.