Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

अनग्नेर्भूमेरपां वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चैव ह । वीर्येण सदृशः पुत्र: पुरा मत्तस्त्वया वृत:

Transliteration

anagner bhūmer apāṁ vāyor antarīkṣasya caiva ha | vīryeṇa sadṛśaḥ putraḥ purā mattas tvayā vṛtaḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“婆罗门啊，你从前曾向我求得一项恩赐：愿得一子，其威力可与火、地、水、风以及苍穹相等。故而，凭你苦行（tapas）的力量，并蒙我之恩许，你得到了这样的儿子——具足梵辉（Brahman 的光耀），至为清净。”

Word by Word

• {'anagneḥ': 'of fire (Agni)

• genitive singular', 'bhūmeḥ': 'of the earth

• genitive singular', 'apām': 'of the waters

• genitive plural', 'vāyoḥ': 'of the wind

• genitive singular', 'antarīkṣasya': 'of the midspace/sky/atmosphere

• genitive singular', 'ca eva': 'and indeed/also', 'ha': 'particle indicating emphasis or recollection (‘indeed’, ‘surely’)', 'vīryeṇa': 'by strength, valor, potency

• instrumental singular', 'sadṛśaḥ': 'similar, comparable

• nominative singular masculine', 'putraḥ': 'son

• nominative singular', 'purā': 'formerly, earlier', 'mattaḥ': 'from me

• ablative singular', 'tvayā': 'by you

• instrumental singular', 'vṛtaḥ': 'chosen/asked for/sought

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (unnamed)
• Agni (fire)
• Bhumi (earth)
• Ap (waters)
• Vayu (wind)
• Antariksha (sky/atmosphere)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links rightful aspiration and disciplined austerity (tapas) with the ethical granting of boons: power is not merely physical but is framed as purity and brahmanical radiance, implying that true strength should be aligned with inner sanctity and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recalls a prior request made by a Brahmin for a son equal in potency to the great elements (fire, earth, water, wind, sky). Bhishma states that, through the Brahmin’s austerities and Bhishma’s favor, such a son was indeed obtained—described as radiant with brahmatejas and exceptionally pure.