Shloka 91

Devanagari script

सदा द्वादशमासांस्तु सत्यवादी धृतव्रत: । अमांसाशी ब्रह्मचारी सर्वभूतहिते रत:

Transliteration

sadā dvādaśa-māsāṁs tu satyavādī dhṛta-vrataḥ | amāṁsāśī brahmacārī sarva-bhūta-hite rataḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “For the full twelve months, he remains ever truthful and steadfast in his vows—abstaining from meat, living in celibacy, and delighting in the welfare of all beings.”

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

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सत्यवादी: truth-speaking
• सत्यवादी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यवादिन्
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: nominative; Number: singular

• धृतव्रतः: firm in vows (having undertaken vows)
• धृतव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतव्रत
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: nominative; Number: singular

• अमांसाशी: non-meat-eating
• अमांसाशी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमांसाशिन्
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: nominative; Number: singular

• ब्रह्मचारी: celibate; one observing brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन्
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: nominative; Number: singular

• सर्वभूतहिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूतहित
• Form: Gender: neuter; Case: locative; Number: singular

• रतः: engaged; devoted
• रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Gender: masculine; Case: nominative; Number: singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a dharmic regimen of sustained self-restraint: truthfulness, unwavering commitment to vows, abstention from meat, celibate discipline, and active concern for the welfare of all beings—presented as a coherent ethical ideal rather than isolated virtues.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and right conduct. Here he describes the qualities and year-long disciplined practice of an exemplary person/observer of vows, emphasizing moral integrity and universal benevolence.