Shloka 8

पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणेषु तु तुष्टेषु प्रीयन्ते पितर: सदा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇeṣu tu tuṣṭeṣu prīyante pitaraḥ sadā

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “When the brāhmaṇas are satisfied, the ancestors are always pleased.”

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणेषु: among/in the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

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

• तुष्टेषु: when (they are) pleased/satisfied
• तुष्टेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• प्रीयन्ते: are pleased/rejoice
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (प्रीञ्)
• Form: Present, Ātmanepada, Third, Plural, Active (intransitive sense)

• पितरः: the ancestors (manes)
• पितरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (Brāhmaṇa)
• पितरः (Pitaraḥ, ancestors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that pleasing worthy brāhmaṇas—through respectful conduct, hospitality, and proper giving—serves as an effective way to please the pitṛs (ancestors). It links social-ethical duty (honoring learned and virtuous persons) with ancestral obligation (pitṛ-yajña/śrāddha).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, including duties toward ancestors and the proper performance of rites and giving. Here he states a principle: the satisfaction of brāhmaṇas is taken as a sign and means of ancestral satisfaction.