Shloka 144

Devanagari script

दम्भद्रोहनिवृत्तेषु कृतबुद्धिषु भारत । अचलेष्वप्रकम्पेषु मा ते भूदत्र संशय:,भारत! नियमशील, सावधान, शौचाचारसे सम्पन्न, महामनस्वी, दम्भ और द्रोहसे रहित, विशुद्ध बुद्धि, अचल और स्थिर स्वभाववाले मनुष्योंके लिये मैंने यह उपवासकी विधि विस्तारपूर्वक बतायी है। इस विषयमें तुम्हें संदेह नहीं करना चाहिये

Transliteration

dambha-droha-nivṛtteṣu kṛta-buddhiṣu bhārata | acaleṣv aprakampeṣu mā te bhūd atra saṁśayaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O Bhārata, regarding those who have turned away from hypocrisy and malice—whose understanding is purified and resolved, whose nature is steady and unshaken—let there be no doubt in you on this matter. For such disciplined, vigilant, and pure-minded great-souled persons, I have set forth in detail this observance of fasting.”

Word by Word

• {'dambha': 'hypocrisy, ostentatious religiosity', 'droha': 'malice, treachery, hostile intent', 'nivṛtta': 'turned away from, ceased from', 'kṛta-buddhi': 'one whose mind is made up

• resolved, purified in intention', 'bhārata': 'O descendant of Bharata (address to Yudhiṣṭhira)', 'acala': 'immovable, steady', 'aprakampa': 'unshaken, not trembling

• firm', 'mā': 'do not', 'te': 'for you / in you', 'bhūt': 'let it be (optative of √bhū)', 'atra': 'here

• in this matter', 'saṁśaya': 'doubt, uncertainty', 'upavāsa': 'fasting

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Fasting and religious observances bear fruit when undertaken by people of steady character—free from hypocrisy and malice, with purified resolve; therefore one should practice such vows with inner sincerity and without doubt.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he concludes or reinforces his detailed explanation of the fasting observance, assuring Yudhiṣṭhira that it is meant for disciplined, pure, and unwavering practitioners.