Shloka 25

Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)

Devanagari script

परिवादो द्विजातीनां न श्रोतव्य: कथंचन । आसीताधोमुखलस्तूष्णीं समुत्थाय व्रजेच्च वा,ब्राह्मणोंकी निन्दा किसी तरह नहीं सुननी चाहिये। जहाँ उनकी निन्दा होती हो, वहाँ नीचे मुँह करके चुपचाप बैठे रहना या वहाँसे उठकर चल देना चाहिये

Transliteration

parivādo dvijātīnāṃ na śrotavyaḥ kathaṃcana | āsītādhomukhas tūṣṇīṃ samutthāya vrajec ca vā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Slander of the twice-born should never be listened to in any manner. If such disparagement is taking place, one should sit silently with the face lowered, or else rise and leave that place.”

Word by Word

परिवादःslander, reviling

द्विजातीनाम्of the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)

नnot

श्रोतव्यःshould be listened to (is to be heard)

कथंचनin any way; at all

आसीतlet (him) sit; he should sit

अधोमुखःwith face down; down-faced

तूष्णीम्silently

समुत्थायhaving risen; after getting up

व्रजेत्should go; should depart

चor/and

वाor

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

dvijāti (twice-born, especially brāhmaṇas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not participate in or validate defamatory speech about the dvijātis; ethical restraint includes refusing to listen, maintaining silent disapproval, or leaving the scene.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he lays down a rule of conduct: when slander of the twice-born is heard, one should neither engage nor encourage it, but respond through silence and withdrawal.