Shloka 103

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अंतर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें ब्रह्मा और भगीरथका संवादविषयक एक सौ तीनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhasthānatarāle ca brāhmaṃ tīrtham udāhṛtam | kaniṣṭhikāyāḥ paścāt tu devatīrtham ihochyate ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Der Raum am Ansatz des Daumens wird als Brāhma-tīrtha (der ‘brahmanische’ heilige Punkt der Hand) bezeichnet. Der Bereich hinter dem kleinen Finger—zu seinem oberen/hinteren Teil hin—heißt hier Deva-tīrtha (der ‘göttliche’ heilige Punkt).“

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठ: of the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अन्तराले: in the space/interval
• अन्तराले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तराल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• ब्राह्मम्: brahmanical; pertaining to Brahmā/Brahmins
• ब्राह्मम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तीर्थम्: sacred spot; (ritual) place/point
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उदाहृतम्: is declared/mentioned
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-आ-हृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Passive (participial)

• कनिष्ठिकायाः: of the little finger
• कनिष्ठिकायाः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठिका
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• पश्चात्: behind; on the back side
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

• तु: but; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• देव: of the gods; divine
• Type: Noun (used as qualifier)
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• तीर्थम्: sacred spot; (ritual) place/point
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• इह: here (in this context)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• उच्यते: is said/called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present (Lat), Passive (Ātmanepada form in passive sense), Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brāhma-tīrtha
• Deva-tīrtha
• thumb (aṅguṣṭha)
• little finger (kaniṣṭhikā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That dharmic giving and offerings are not only about intention but also about correct ritual method: specific points on the hand are designated as ‘tīrthas’ (Brāhma-tīrtha and Deva-tīrtha), and using them properly is part of disciplined dāna-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma continues instructing on dāna-dharma within the Anuśāsana Parva, giving technical guidance on ritual practice—identifying which parts of the hand are termed Brāhma-tīrtha and Deva-tīrtha for performing offerings.