Shloka 128

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

तपसा भगवान्‌ विष्णुराविवेश च भूमिपम्‌ । देववन्नरदेवानां नमते यं जगन्नूपम्‌

Transliteration

tapasā bhagavān viṣṇur āviveśa ca bhūmipam | devavan naradevāṇāṁ namate yaṁ jagannṛpam | rājā pṛthukī tapasyāse prasanno ho bhagavān viṣṇunā svayam

Translation

毗湿摩说道：凭借苦行的威力，吉祥的至尊毗湿奴进入了那位国王之身。在诸位如天神般的人间君王之中，他是那位令整个世界都如同在神前一般俯首的王者。于是，坚守苦行的普利图基王，亲自获得了毗湿奴本尊的直接垂恩。

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आविवेश: entered
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular

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

• भूमिपम्: the king (lord of the earth)
• भूमिपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देववत्: like a god
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देववत्

• नरदेवानाम्: of the god-like men (kings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरदेव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नमते: bows (down)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम्
• Form: Present (Laṭ), Third, Singular

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जगन्नूपम्: the world-protector/ornament of the world (epithet)
• जगन्नूपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगन्नूप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vishnu
• King Prithuki
• the world (jagat)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s true authority is grounded in dharma and self-discipline: sustained tapas can purify and empower a king so that divine grace supports his rule, making him worthy of universal respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a king (Prithuki) whose austerities pleased Vishnu; as a sign of favor, Vishnu is said to ‘enter’ the king, and the world reveres him like a deity among rulers.