Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

धर्मव्याकरणं पुण्यं रहस्यश्रवर्ण महत्‌ । श्रोतव्यं धर्मसंयुक्त विहितं त्रिदशै: स्वयम्‌

Translation

“In it, dharma and its hidden mysteries are expounded. It is supremely holy, granting the hearing of a great esoteric truth; it is joined to dharma and was ordained by the gods themselves. Therefore, it should be listened to.”

Word by Word

• धर्मव्याकरणम्: exposition/analysis of dharma
• धर्मव्याकरणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-व्याकरण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• रहस्यश्रवणम्: hearing of the secret (teachings)
• रहस्यश्रवणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य-श्रवण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• श्रोतव्यम्: should be heard
• श्रोतव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Gerundive (भाव्य/तव्यत्), Passive sense (obligation)

• धर्मसंयुक्तम्: connected with dharma
• धर्मसंयुक्तम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-संयुक्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विहितम्: ordained/established
• विहितम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त), Passive

• त्रिदशैः: by the gods (thirty deities)
• त्रिदशैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• स्वयम्: by themselves; personally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच