Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 22

भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival

Devanagari script

भवार्थमिह देवानां बुद्धया परमया युत: । प्राजापत्ये शुभे मार्गे मानवे धर्मसंस्कृते

Transliteration

bhavārtham iha devānāṁ buddhyā paramayā yutaḥ | prājāpatye śubhe mārge mānave dharma-saṁskṛte |

Translation

For the welfare and advancement of the gods, endowed with supreme wisdom, the Blessed Lord Govinda will take birth here—establishing Himself on the auspicious path of Prajāpati—within the human lineage refined by Manu’s dharma. In the great Manu’s dynasty there will be a king named Aṅga; from him a son named Antardhāman will be born.

Word by Word

• भव: welfare, prosperity
• भव: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (भू-धातु से; ‘भव’ = अस्तित्व/कल्याण/उन्नति)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थम्: purpose, sake
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इह: here, in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• बुद्ध्या: with intelligence
• बुद्ध्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परमया: supreme, highest
• परमया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• युतः: endowed (with), joined
• युतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (युज्-धातु; ‘युक्त/युत’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राजापत्ये: in/along the Prajāpati-related (path/order)
• प्राजापत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राजापत्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मार्गे: on the path
• मार्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मानवे: in the human (lineage/realm), of Manu
• मानवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानव
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• धर्मसंस्कृते: refined/formed by dharma
• धर्मसंस्कृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मसंस्कृत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

ईश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (the Lord)
• Govinda
• Devas
• Prajāpati
• Manu
• King Aṅga
• Antardhāman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames divine incarnation as a dharma-centered intervention: the Lord, endowed with supreme wisdom, manifests within a righteous human lineage to uphold the Prajāpati-ordained path and promote the welfare of the gods—linking cosmic stability to dharmic kingship and lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Īśvara speaks prophetically about Govinda’s descent into a Manu-sanctified human line, then begins a genealogical sequence: in Manu’s dynasty a king named Aṅga will arise, and Aṅga will have a son named Antardhāman.