Shloka 25
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
Devanagari script
पन्था देयो ब्राह्म॒णाय गोभ्यो राजभ्य एव च
Transliteration
panthā deyo brāhmaṇāya gobhyo rājabhya eva ca
Translation
Bhīṣma said: “A clear passage should be granted—to a brāhmaṇa, to cows, and to kings as well.”
Word by Word
पन्थाःpath, way (right of way)
पन्थाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपथिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
देयःto be given, should be granted
देयः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदेय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ब्राह्मणायto/for a Brahmin
ब्राह्मणाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
गोभ्यःto/for cows
गोभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootगो
FormFeminine, Dative, Plural
राजभ्यःto/for kings
राजभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Dative, Plural
एवindeed, just, only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaB
brāhmaṇaC
cows (go)K
kings/rulers (rāja)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
One should yield the way (grant passage) to those traditionally honored and protected—brāhmaṇas, cows, and kings—reflecting dharma as expressed through courtesy, non-obstruction, and social responsibility.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma in the Anuśāsana Parva, he states a rule of conduct: when encountering brāhmaṇas, cows, or rulers, one should not block them but respectfully allow them to pass.