Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पवित्राणां पवित्र यो मड़लानां च मज्जलम्‌ | दैवतं देवतानां च भूतानां योडव्यय: पिता

Transliteration

pavitrāṇāṁ pavitro yo maṅgalānāṁ ca maṅgalam | daivataṁ devatānāṁ ca bhūtānāṁ yo’vyayaḥ pitā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: He who is the purest among all that is pure, the very auspiciousness among auspicious things; who is the God even of the gods, and the imperishable Father of all beings.

Word by Word

• पवित्राणाम्: of the pure/purifiers
• पवित्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• पवित्रः: the purifier (pure one)
• पवित्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• मलानाम्: of impurities
• मलानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मज्जलम्: the cleanser/washer (that which washes away)
• मज्जलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दैवतम्: the deity (divinity)
• दैवतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• देवतानाम्: of the gods
• देवतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• भूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Supreme Lord (unnamed, as the highest deity)
• devatāḥ (the gods)
• bhūtāni (all beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse exalts the Supreme as the ultimate standard of purity and auspiciousness, superior even to the gods, and as the imperishable source (Father) of all beings—encouraging reverence, surrender, and ethical alignment with that highest reality.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma, praising the Supreme Lord in elevated epithets to frame religious duty and right conduct around devotion to, and recognition of, the highest divine principle.