Shloka 8

Brāhmaṇa-pūjā and Namaskāra: Criteria of Reverence and Non-Offense (ब्राह्मणपूजा-नमस्कारविधिः)

Devanagari script

गोरोचनासमालम्भो वचाहस्तश्न यो भवेत्‌ । घृताक्षतं च यो दद्यान्मस्तके तत्परायण:

Transliteration

gorocanā-samālambho vacā-hastaś ca yo bhavet | ghṛtākṣataṃ ca yo dadyān mastake tat-parāyaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “One who anoints (the body) with gorocanā, keeps vacā in hand, and, devotedly intent on the rite, places ghee-mixed unbroken grains (akṣata) upon the head—such a person performs an auspicious, protective observance.”

Word by Word

गोरोचना-समालम्भःthe application/anointing with gorocanā

वचा-हस्तःone whose hand holds vacā (sweet-flag)

यःwho

भवेत्would be / should be

घृत-अक्षतम्rice-grains (akṣata) with ghee

चand

यःwho

दद्यात्would give / should offer

मस्तकेon the head

तत्-परायणःdevoted to that / intent on that

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

gorocanā

vacā

ghṛta (ghee)

akṣata (unbroken grains)

mastaka (head)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights simple auspicious substances—gorocanā, vacā, and ghṛtākṣata—as ritual supports for protection and благоприятность (śubha). The ethical emphasis is on focused, sincere observance (tat-parāyaṇa), suggesting that devotion and careful intent give efficacy to outward acts.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and observances. Here he describes a specific auspicious procedure: anointing with gorocanā, holding vacā, and placing ghee-mixed unbroken grains on the head as part of a protective/benedictory rite.