Shloka 17

Adhyāya 64: Dāna-prakāra—Suvarṇa, Pānīya-dāna, Ghṛta-dāna, and Upakaraṇa-dāna

Utility Gifts

Devanagari script

आत्मनश्र परेषां च वृत्तिं संरक्ष भारत

Transliteration

ātmanaś ca pareṣāṃ ca vṛttiṃ saṃrakṣa bhārata

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „O Bhārata, wahre die rechtmäßige Lebensführung und das rechte Verhalten – sowohl das deine als auch das der anderen.“

Word by Word

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• परेषाम्: of others
• परेषाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• वृत्तिम्: livelihood; conduct; means of subsistence
• वृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• संरक्ष: protect; preserve
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + रक्ष्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler (and any ethical agent) should protect both personal integrity and the welfare of others by safeguarding rightful livelihoods and proper social conduct, ensuring people can live according to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and governance. Here he gives a concise directive emphasizing the king’s duty to preserve the legitimate occupations and well-being of himself and his subjects.