Shloka 111
अक्रूरः पेशलो दक्षो दक्षिण: क्षमिणां वर: । विद्वत्तमो वीतभय: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन:
akrūraḥ peśalo dakṣo dakṣiṇaḥ kṣamiṇāṃ varaḥ | vidvattamo vītabhayaḥ puṇyaśravaṇakīrtanaḥ ||
Bhishma said: Akrura is free from all cruelty; he is gracious and refined in mind, speech, and action; capable and efficient, able to accomplish even great tasks swiftly; generous and giving; the best among the forgiving; the most learned among the learned; fearless; and of such sanctity that hearing and singing of his name, qualities, glory, and true nature is purifying. Ethically, the verse presents an ideal of noble character—strength joined with gentleness, competence joined with generosity, and learning joined with fearlessness—so that a person becomes worthy of praise and remembrance.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches an ethical ideal: true excellence combines gentleness (non-cruelty, forgiveness), competence (skill and effectiveness), generosity, learning, and fearlessness. Such integrated virtue makes a person worthy of being remembered and praised, and even the act of recalling such goodness becomes spiritually purifying.
In Bhishma’s discourse in the Anushasana Parva, he is describing and extolling Akrura by listing his exemplary qualities. The focus is not on an event but on character assessment—presenting Akrura as a model of dharmic conduct.