Shloka 25

Śānti Parva, Adhyāya 52 — Bhīṣma’s Humility Before Kṛṣṇa and the Granting of Boons

Devanagari script

ववौ शिव: सुखो वायु: सर्वगन्धवह: शुचि: । शान्तायां दिशि शान्ताश्च प्रावदन्‌ मृगपक्षिण:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | vavau śivaḥ sukho vāyuḥ sarvagandhavahaḥ śuciḥ | śāntāyāṃ diśi śāntāś ca prāvadan mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：一阵祥和而怡人的清风吹拂——洁净无垢，携带万般芬芳。四方寂然安定；在这宁静之中，走兽飞禽亦变得温驯，发出甜美而平和的声响——外在的征兆表明此刻吉祥，适于沉着的法（dharma）之议，而非纷扰。

Word by Word

• ववौ: blew
• Type: Verb
• Root: वा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), 3, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• शिवः: auspicious, benign
• शिवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सुखः: pleasant
• सुखः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सर्वगन्धवहः: carrying all fragrances
• सर्वगन्धवहः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वगन्धवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शुचिः: pure, clean
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• शान्तायाम्: in the calm (direction)
• शान्तायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• दिशि: in the direction/quarter
• दिशि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• शान्ताः: calm, peaceful
• शान्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्रावदन्: spoke, uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/इम्परफेक्ट), 3, plural, परस्मैपदम्

• मृगपक्षिणः: beasts and birds
• मृगपक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगपक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• vāyu (wind)
• diś (the quarters/directions)
• mṛga (beasts)
• pakṣi (birds)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a calm, fragrant, pure breeze and the quieting of animals and birds as an auspicious sign: when the environment becomes serene, it mirrors and supports inner composure, making it fit for dharmic reflection and wise instruction—central concerns of the Śānti Parva.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the atmosphere as wholly peaceful: a gentle, fragrant wind blows, the directions are quiet, and even animals and birds seem calm and sweet-voiced. This sets a tranquil stage for the ensuing discourse characteristic of the Śānti Parva.