Shloka 10

धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)

Devanagari script

त॑ प्रसन्न प्रसन्नात्मा नारदो द्विजसत्तम:

Transliteration

taṁ prasanna-prasannātmā nārado dvija-sattamaḥ

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“那罗陀——二次生者中最卓越者——面容安宁、心神澄定，前来趋近于他。”

Word by Word

• तत्: that (him/it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रसन्नः: pleased, serene
• प्रसन्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रसन्नात्मा: one whose mind/self is serene
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्नात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजसत्तमः: best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ethical ideal that true instruction in dharma is best conveyed and received in a state of inner serenity (prasannātmā). The sage’s calmness signals purity of intention and clarity of discernment, qualities essential for righteous counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes Nārada’s arrival/engagement with the addressed person (“him”), emphasizing Nārada’s composed demeanor and exalted status among the twice-born, setting a respectful tone for the counsel or discourse that follows.