Shloka 44

Devanagari script

सदा द्वादशमासान्‌ वै जुह्मानो जातवेदसम्‌ | ब्रह्मकन्यानिवासे च सर्वभूतमनोहरे

Transliteration

sadā dvādaśa-māsān vai juhmāno jātavedasam | brahma-kanyā-nivāse ca sarva-bhūta-mano-hare ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: One who continually offers oblations to Jātavedas (Agni) throughout the full twelve months, and who dwells in the abode of the Brahma-maidens—an enchanting place that captivates the minds of all beings—attains the merit associated with sustained sacrificial discipline and purity of conduct.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: accusative; Number: plural

• मासान्: months
• मासान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: accusative; Number: plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• जुह्मानः: offering (in sacrifice), sacrificing
• जुह्मानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: Participle: present active; Gender: masculine; Case: nominative; Number: singular

• जातवेदसम्: Jātavedas (Agni)
• जातवेदसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातवेदस्
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: accusative; Number: singular

• ब्रह्मकन्या: in the abode of the Brahma-maiden(s)
• ब्रह्मकन्या: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मकन्या
• Form: Gender: feminine; Case: locative; Number: singular

• निवासे: in the dwelling/abode
• निवासे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: locative; Number: singular

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

• सर्वभूतमनोहरे: in (that which is) charming to the minds of all beings
• सर्वभूतमनोहरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वभूतमनोहर
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: locative; Number: singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Jatavedas (Agni)
• Brahma-kanyas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-religious value of sustained discipline in ritual duty: continuous offerings to Agni over a full year symbolize steadiness, purity, and commitment to dharma, leading to elevated spiritual merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and meritorious practices. Here he describes the fruit of year-long fire-offerings to Jātavedas and associates it with residence in a divine, mind-delighting realm linked with the Brahma-maidens.