Shloka 6

Devanagari script

अन्वाहार्य महाराज पित्‌णां श्राद्धमुच्यते । तस्माद्‌ विशेषविधिना विधि: प्रथमकल्पित:,महाराज! पितरोंके श्राद्धको अन्वाहार्य कहते हैं। अतः विशेष विधिके द्वारा उसका अनुष्ठान पहले करना चाहिये

Transliteration

anvāhārya mahārāja pitṝṇāṃ śrāddham ucyate | tasmād viśeṣa-vidhinā vidhiḥ prathama-kalpitaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O great king, the śrāddha offered to the Pitṛs (ancestral fathers) is called ‘Anvāhārya’. Therefore it has been ordained that this rite should be performed first, in accordance with the special prescribed procedure.”

Word by Word

• अन्वाहार्य: ‘anvāhārya’ (name/qualifier: to be offered after the meal; a kind of śrāddha)
• अन्वाहार्य: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वाहार्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पितॄणाम्: of the fathers/ancestors
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha (ancestral rite)
• श्राद्धम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is called / is said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Mahārāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Śrāddha
• Anvāhārya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the śrāddha meant for the ancestors is specifically termed ‘Anvāhārya’ and that it carries a priority in ritual order—one should perform it first, following its distinct, prescribed procedure.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially ritual and ethical duties. Here he clarifies the classification and precedence of ancestral śrāddha rites, emphasizing correct performance according to rule.