Shloka 25

अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā

Devanagari script

अस्ति मे बलवानस्मि राजास्मीति युधिष्ठिर । ब्राह्मणान्‌ मा च पर्यश्रीवसोभिरशनेन च

Transliteration

asti me balavān asmi rājā asmīti yudhiṣṭhira | brāhmaṇān mā ca paryaśrīvasobhir aśanena ca ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „O Yudhiṣṭhira, lass nicht den Gedanken aufkommen: ‚Ich habe Reichtum, ich bin stark, ich bin der König.‘ Aus solchem Hochmut heraus missachte die Brahmanen nicht und genieße dann Speise und Gewand nur für dich allein. Königtum ist mit Ehrfurcht vor den Gelehrten und mit Zügelung des eigenen Genusses auszuüben.“

Word by Word

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• बलवान्: strong
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Lat (Present), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजा: king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Lat (Present), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus (thinking/quoting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: Prohibitive particle (with imperative/optative)

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

• पर्यश्रीः: disregard/neglect (lit. do not resort to/turn away from)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + अश्री (आ-श्रि)
• Form: Lot (Imperative), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वसोभिः: with garments/clothes
• वसोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस् (वसन)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अशनेन: with food
• अशनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Brāhmaṇas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power, wealth, and kingship should not breed arrogance. A ruler must honor the Brāhmaṇas (as custodians of learning and dharma) and practice restraint, not indulging in food and clothing while neglecting those worthy of respect and support.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper royal conduct. Here he warns Yudhiṣṭhira against pride in sovereignty and urges reverence toward Brāhmaṇas and disciplined personal enjoyment.