Shloka 8

Tapas, Tīrtha, and Moral Rehabilitation (Śānti-parva 148)

Devanagari script

अहो देहप्रदानेन दर्शितातिथिपूजना

Transliteration

aho deha-pradānena darśitātithi-pūjanā

Translation

قال بهيشما: «آه! لقد أقام الحمامُ العظيم أمامي مثالًا ساطعًا لإكرام الضيف، إذ قدّم جسده قربانًا. لذلك سأعمل من الآن فصاعدًا وفق الدارما وحدها، لأن الدارما وحدها هي الملاذ الأعلى والغاية الأخيرة. إن الدارما التي شهدتُها في ذلك الطائر البارّ النبيل—هي بعينها الدارما التي أبتغيها لنفسي أيضًا.»

Word by Word

• अहो: oh! alas!/indeed!
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो

• देह-प्रदानेन: by (the act of) giving the body
• देह-प्रदानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहप्रदान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दर्शित-अतिथि-पूजना: whose hospitality to a guest has been shown/manifested
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्शितातिथिपूजना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kapota (pigeon/dove)
• Atithi (guest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is the highest goal, and true dharma is proven through action—especially through unwavering hospitality and self-sacrifice in protecting and honoring a guest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reflects on the exemplary conduct of a noble pigeon who offers its own body to uphold the duty of honoring a guest. Inspired, Bhīṣma resolves to follow the same dharmic standard, affirming dharma as the supreme refuge.