Shloka 29

नारायणीयमाख्यानम् (Nārāyaṇīyam Ākhyānam) — Nārada’s Return and Hymnic Consolidation

Devanagari script

आसाद्य तमृषिं सर्वा: सम्भ्रान्ता गतचेतस: । जले निलिल्यिरे काश्रनित्‌ काश्रनिद्‌ गुल्मान्‌ प्रपेदिरे

Transliteration

āsādya tam ṛṣiṁ sarvāḥ sambhrāntā gata-cetasaḥ | jale nililyire kāścid kāścid gulmān prapedire ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：她们来到那位仙人跟前，尽皆惊惶失措、心神不定，因恐惧而作出反应：有的潜入水中，有的奔逃，躲入灌木丛。此景昭示：一旦烦乱起、定力失，众生即便面对灵性威严，也会冲动地作出自保之举。

Word by Word

• आसाद्य: having approached / reaching
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), कर्तरि, true

• तम्: him / that (one)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऋषिम्: sage
• ऋषिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वाः: all (of them)
• सर्वाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सम्भ्रान्ताः: agitated / bewildered
• सम्भ्रान्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√भ्रम्
• Form: क्त, Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• गतचेतसः: whose minds were gone (out of their senses)
• गतचेतसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत-चेतस्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• निलिल्यिरे: they hid / they plunged (themselves)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√ली
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), आत्मनेपद, Third, Plural

• काश्रनित्: Kāśranit (a kind of thicket/plant; uncertain reading)
• काश्रनित्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्रनित्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• काश्रनित्: Kāśranit (repeated; uncertain reading)
• काश्रनित्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्रनित्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• गुल्मान्: thickets / bushes
• गुल्मान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रपेदिरे: they resorted to / they entered / they reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद्
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), आत्मनेपद, Third, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• a rishi (sage)
• water (jala)
• thickets/bushes (gulma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical importance of steadiness of mind (self-control): when people become sambhrānta (agitated) and gata-cetasaḥ (mentally unmoored), they act rashly—seeking immediate safety rather than responding with discernment, even near a sage who represents restraint and higher insight.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group reaches a rishi; upon encountering him, they are seized by panic and confusion. Some hide by plunging into water, while others run into nearby thickets for cover.