Shloka 24

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

अनृशंस शुचिं दान्तं सर्वभूतहिते रतम्‌ । महारथं त्वत्सदृशं न कंचिदनुशुश्रुम

Transliteration

anṛśaṃsa śuciṃ dāntaṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam | mahārathaṃ tvatsadṛśaṃ na kaṃcid anuśuśruma ||

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：“我未曾听闻还有另一位大车战士如你一般——不行残酷，行止清净，自制克己，并以一切众生之福祉为志业。”

Word by Word

• अनृशंसम्: non-cruel, compassionate
• अनृशंसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृशंस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शुचिम्: pure, clean
• शुचिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दान्तम्: self-controlled, restrained
• दान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वभूतहिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूतहित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रतम्: engaged, devoted
• रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महारथम्: great chariot-warrior
• महारथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्वत्सदृशम्: like you, similar to you
• त्वत्सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत्सदृश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• कञ्चित्: anyone (at all)
• कञ्चित्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुशुश्रुम: I have heard (of), I have learned
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• unnamed addressee (tvam: ‘you’)
• mahāratha (great chariot-warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises the ideal warrior-ruler as one whose greatness is measured not only by martial prowess (mahāratha) but by ethical virtues: non-cruelty, purity, self-restraint, and active commitment to the welfare of all beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a traditional commendation of an unnamed ‘you’—declaring that no other great warrior equal to him has been heard of, because he combines supreme martial status with exemplary moral character.