Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 1226

ज्येष्ठ-कनिष्ठ-धर्मः — Duties of Elders and Juniors

Anuśāsana-parva 108

Devanagari script

वयःस्थां च महाप्राज्ञ: कन्यामावोदुम्ति । जो श्रेष्ठ कुलमें उत्पन्न हुई हो

Transliteration

vayaḥsthāṃ ca mahāprājñaḥ kanyām āvodum icchati | yo śreṣṭha-kule utpannā bhavet uttama-lakṣaṇaiḥ praśaṃsitā ca vivāha-yogyām avasthāṃ prāptā | tādṛśīṃ sulakṣaṇāṃ kanyāṃ saha śreṣṭha-buddhimān puruṣo vivāhayet ||

Translation

ভীষ্মৰ উপদেশ—যি পুৰুষ মহাপ্ৰাজ্ঞ, সি বিবাহযোগ্য বয়সলৈ উপনীত, শ্ৰেষ্ঠ কুলত জন্ম লোৱা, উত্তম গুণ আৰু শুভ লক্ষণে প্ৰশংসিত সুলক্ষণী কন্যাক ধৰ্মানুসাৰে বিবাহ কৰিব।

Word by Word

• वयःस्थाम्: of marriageable age
• वयःस्थाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वयःस्था
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• महाप्राज्ञः: very wise (man)
• महाप्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कन्याम्: a maiden/daughter
• कन्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आवोदुम्: to speak/utter (as written; likely corrupt)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive), Parasmaipada (by root)

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A wise man should marry a maiden who is mature and marriage-eligible, praised for good qualities and auspicious traits, and born in a reputable family—so that the household stage is established on dharma and responsible choice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on dharma; here he gives guidance on proper criteria for marriage, emphasizing maturity, character, and suitability.