Shloka 19

Devanagari script

येषां वृद्धश्न बालश्न सर्व: सम्मानमरहति । तपोविद्याविशेषात्तु मानयन्ति परस्परम्‌

Transliteration

yeṣāṁ vṛddhaśna bālaśna sarvaḥ sammānam arhati | tapovidyāviśeṣāt tu mānayanti parasparam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Among Brahmins, whether one is aged or still a child, each is worthy of honor. Yet, within their community, they especially honor one another in proportion to excellence in austerity and learning—recognizing spiritual discipline and knowledge as the true measures of distinction.

Word by Word

• येषाम्: of whom
• येषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वृद्धश्नः: one who eats after the elders (i.e., respects elders)
• वृद्धश्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्धश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बालश्नः: one who eats after the children (i.e., cares for children)
• बालश्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बालश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वः: everyone
• सर्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्मानम्: honour, respect
• सम्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्मान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्हति: deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तपोविद्याविशेषात्: because of distinction/superiority in austerity and learning
• तपोविद्याविशेषात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोविद्याविशेष
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• मानयन्ति: they honour, they respect
• Type: Verb
• Root: मान्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परस्परम्: mutually, one another
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brāhmaṇa (Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Everyone within the Brahmin community is intrinsically worthy of respect regardless of age; nevertheless, special esteem is accorded based on demonstrable excellence in tapas (discipline/austerity) and vidyā (learning), making virtue and knowledge the ethical criteria for higher honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he explains norms of social reverence: Brahmins should be honored universally, and among themselves they mutually recognize and honor greater spiritual discipline and learning.