Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

अथ देवा: समागम्य विष्णुमूचु: प्रजापतिम्‌ । एको यो<हति मर्त्येंभ्य: श्रैष्ल्यं वैतं समादिश

Transliteration

atha devāḥ samāgamya viṣṇum ūcuḥ prajāpatiṃ | eko yo 'hati martyebhyaḥ śraiṣṭhyaṃ vaitaṃ samādiśa ||

Translation

于是诸天众神齐集，向毗湿奴——众生之主——启言道：“在凡人之中，有一位超越其余者；请为我等明白宣示，那最卓绝者究竟是谁。”

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समागम्य: having assembled / having come together
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऊचुः: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रजापतिम्: the Lord of creatures (Prajapati)
• प्रजापतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एकः: one (single)
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हति: kills / slays
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मर्त्येभ्यः: from mortals / among mortals
• मर्त्येभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• श्रैष्ल्यम्: best state / excellence (reading uncertain)
• श्रैष्ल्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रैष्ल्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समादिश: command / prescribe
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-दिश्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• देवाः (the gods)
• विष्णु (Viṣṇu)
• प्रजापति (Prajāpati, as an epithet)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry: true ‘foremost-ness’ among humans is not assumed but must be discerned and authoritatively defined, implying that excellence is grounded in recognized standards (dharma/virtue) rather than mere power or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma recounts that the gods gather and question Viṣṇu (addressed as Prajāpati), asking him to identify and declare who is the most excellent among mortals.