Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अनाइमन्तं परं ब्रह्म न देवा नर्षयो विदु:

Transliteration

anāimantaṁ paraṁ brahma na devā na ṛṣayo viduḥ

Translation

قال بهيشما: «ذلك البراهمان (Brahman) الأسمى، المتعالي عن كل مقياس وكل قيدٍ وشرط، لا يُعرَف على الحقيقة—لا من الآلهة، ولا من الرِّشيّين (العارفين).»

Word by Word

• अनाइमन्तम्: unmeasurable / immeasurably vast
• अनाइमन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाइमन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (the Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• न: nor / not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विदुः: know
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brahman
• Devas
• Ṛṣis

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses the transcendence of Brahman: ultimate reality is beyond measurement and conceptual grasp, so even exalted beings like devas and ṛṣis cannot claim complete, final knowledge of it. The ethical implication is humility—spiritual inquiry should recognize the limits of intellect and status.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and higher truths. Here he underscores that the supreme Brahman is immeasurable and not fully known even to gods and sages, setting a contemplative tone for teachings on ultimate reality and right understanding.