Shloka 4

Devanagari script

एतावन्मात्रमेतद्धि भूतानां प्राज्ञलक्षणम्‌ | कालयुक्तो5प्युभयविच्छेषं॑ युक्त समाचरेत्‌

Transliteration

etāvanmātram etaddhi bhūtānāṁ prājñalakṣaṇam | kālayukto 'py ubhayaviccheṣaṁ yuktaḥ samācaret |

Translation

Bhishma said: “This much indeed is the mark of wisdom in living beings: trusting in the fruit of dharma, they commit themselves to its practice. Even when one is bound by adverse circumstances of time and fate, a person who discerns both what ought to be done and what ought not to be done should still act appropriately—choosing dharma and living it as best as the situation allows.”

Word by Word

• {'etāvanmātram': 'only this much

• to this extent alone', 'etat': 'this (teaching/point)', 'hi': 'indeed

• for', 'bhūtānām': 'of beings

• of living creatures', 'prājña-lakṣaṇam': 'mark/sign of the wise

• characteristic of discernment', 'kāla-yuktaḥ': 'joined with time

• subject to circumstances/time (often implying fate/adversity)', 'api': 'even

• although', 'ubhaya': 'both (twofold)', 'viccheṣam': 'distinction

• separation (here: between two alternatives)', 'yuktaḥ': 'fit

• appropriate', 'samācaret': 'should practice/perform

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wisdom is shown by discerning duty from non-duty and continuing to practice dharma appropriately even when circumstances (kāla) are unfavorable, trusting that dharma bears fruit.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on ethical conduct: the wise do not abandon dharma due to adverse fate or timing, but act rightly within what is possible.