Shloka 43

अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च

Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations

Devanagari script

भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन! महात्मा ब्रह्माजीके ऐसा कहनेपर वृक्ष, ओषधि और तृणका समुदाय उनकी पूजा करके जैसे आया था, वैसे ही शीघ्र लौट गया ।।

Transliteration

āhūyāpsaraso devas tato lokapitāmahaḥ | vācā madhurayā prāha sāntvayann iva bhārata ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：大王啊！当大心的梵天如此宣示之后，树木、药草与诸草之众礼敬供奉于他，便如来时一般迅速返回。随后，诸世界之祖父、天界的梵天召来阿普萨拉斯，以甘美之言，仿佛抚慰她们一般说道——

Word by Word

• आहूय: having summoned/called
• आहूय: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आह्वा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• अप्सरसः: the Apsarases (celestial nymphs)
• अप्सरसः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• लोकपितामहः: the grandsire of the worlds (Brahmā)
• लोकपितामहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाचा: with speech/words
• वाचा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• मधुरया: sweet
• मधुरया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• प्राह: said/spoke
• प्राह: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सान्त्वयन्: comforting/conciliating
• सान्त्वयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय् (धातु, denom. from सान्त्वना)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)

• भारत: O Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brahmā (Lokapitāmaha)
• Apsarases
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic principle of leadership: restoring harmony through madhura-vāc (gentle, sweet speech) and sāntvana (reassurance). Authority is exercised with compassion and emotional intelligence rather than harshness.

What is happening in the narrative?

After earlier events in the episode, Brahmā—called the Lokapitāmaha—summons the Apsarases and speaks to them in soothing words, as if to calm or reassure them, while Bhīṣma narrates this to Yudhiṣṭhira.