Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 11

Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ

The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्ते नारदेन भीष्ममीयुर्नराधिपा: । प्रष्टं चाशक्नुवन्तस्ते वीक्षांचक्रु: परस्परम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca evam ukte nāradena bhīṣmam īyur narādhipāḥ | praṣṭuṃ ca aśaknuvantas te vīkṣāṃ cakruḥ parasparam |

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：那罗陀如此说罢，诸王便走近毗湿摩。然而他们竟不敢开口发问，只彼此相望，各自等待他人先说——显出他们在受敬的长者面前的踌躇，也显出他们所求明了之法的沉重与庄严。

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ते: when (it was) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त, Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नारदेन: by Narada
• नारदेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ईयुः: went/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• नराधिपाः: kings (lords of men)
• नराधिपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रष्टुम्: to ask
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: तुमुन्, true

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

• अशक्नुवन्तः: being unable
• अशक्नुवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान), Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वीक्षाम्: a look/glance
• वीक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रुः: made/did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परस्परम्: at one another/mutually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nārada
• Bhīṣma
• narādhipāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical posture required for receiving dharma-instruction: humility and reverence. Even powerful kings feel the weight of approaching a venerable authority like Bhīṣma, and their hesitation underscores that questions about dharma are serious and demand inner readiness, not mere curiosity.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Nārada’s statement, the assembled kings come near Bhīṣma intending to inquire. However, none dares to begin; they exchange glances, each expecting another to ask first, setting the stage for Bhīṣma’s forthcoming instruction.