Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

यश्न तं मानवे लोके संश्रयिष्यति केशवम्‌ | तस्य कीर्तिरजयश्रैव स्वर्गश्नैव भविष्यति

Transliteration

yaś ca taṁ mānave loke saṁśrayiṣyati keśavam | tasya kīrtir ajayaiva svargaś caiva bhaviṣyati | dharma eva paro hi syāt tasminn abhyarcite vibhau | sa hi devo mahātejāḥ prajāhita-cikīrṣayā ||

Translation

Whoever, in the human world, takes refuge in Keśava will gain unfailing fame and attain heaven. For when that all-powerful Lord is duly worshipped, dharma itself becomes supreme and firmly established. He is a god of great splendor, acting with the intention of the welfare of beings.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एनम्: him (this one)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मानवे: in the human
• मानवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• लोके: world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• संश्रयिष्यति: will take refuge in
• संश्रयिष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-श्रि (श्रि)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular

• केशवम्: Keshava (Krishna)
• केशवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अजया: by the unborn / by Aja (uncertain reading)
• अजया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजया (अज + या?)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• श्रिया: with prosperity/splendour
• श्रिया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भविष्यति: will be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: alone/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• परः: supreme
• परः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: for/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• स्यात्: would be / should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Liṅ), 3rd, Singular

• तस्मिन्: in him
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अभ्यर्चिते: when (he is) worshipped
• अभ्यर्चिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Participle
• Root: अभि-र्च्
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• विभौ: in the mighty Lord
• विभौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• देवः: god
• देवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महातेजाः: of great splendour
• महातेजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रजाहितचिकीर्षया: with the desire to do good to creatures
• प्रजाहितचिकीर्षया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-हित-चिकीर्षा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

ईश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa/Vāsudeva)
• Īśvara (speaker)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Taking refuge in Keśava and worshipping the all-powerful Lord establishes dharma as the highest good; such devotion yields enduring renown and the merit leading to heaven.

What is happening in the narrative?

Īśvara speaks in praise of Keśava, declaring the fruits of seeking his shelter and worship—ethical elevation (dharma’s supremacy) and auspicious results (kīrti and svarga).