Shloka 5

Devanagari script

तमेव चार्चयन्‌ नित्यं भकक्‍त्या पुरुषमव्ययम्‌ | ध्यायन्‌ स्तुवन्‌ नमस्यंश्व॒ यजमानस्तमेव च

Transliteration

tam eva cārcayan nityaṁ bhaktyā puruṣam avyayam | dhyāyan stuvan namasyaṁś ca yajamānas tam eva ca ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “By worshipping that very Imperishable Person constantly with devotion—by meditating on Him, praising Him, and bowing to Him—the worshipper who offers himself in reverent service to Him becomes freed from all sorrows.”

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

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

• अर्चयन्: worshipping
• अर्चयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Supreme being)
• पुरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ध्यायन्: meditating (on)
• ध्यायन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्तुवन्: praising
• स्तुवन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नमस्यन्: saluting/bowing to
• नमस्यन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + य (नमस्यति)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यजमानः: the worshipper/sacrificer
• यजमानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

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

• तथा: thus/in that way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the Imperishable Person (Puruṣa/Īśvara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Single-pointed devotion to the Imperishable Supreme—expressed through worship, meditation, praise, and salutations—purifies the devotee and leads to freedom from sorrow.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on dharma; here he emphasizes a devotional discipline centered on the Supreme Person, presenting it as a practical means to overcome suffering.