Shloka 193

Devanagari script

पुष्टिरायुस्तथा वीर्य श्रीक्षैव पितृभक्तित: । अत: जो इस बातको जानते हैं, वे एकाग्रचित्त हो नावपर बैठनेपर सदा ही पितरोंके लिये जल दिया करते हैं। महीनेका आधा समय बीत जानेपर कृष्णपक्षकी अमावास्या तिथिको अवश्य श्राद्ध करना चाहिये। पितरोंकी भक्तिसे मनुष्यको पुष्टि, आयु, वीर्य और लक्ष्मीकी प्राप्ति होती है

Transliteration

puṣṭir āyus tathā vīryaṁ śrīś caiva pitṛbhaktitaḥ |

Translation

Bhīṣma declares that devotion to one’s ancestors (Pitṛs) brings tangible blessings: nourishment and well-being, long life, vigor, and prosperity. Therefore, those who know this should, with a focused mind, continually offer water to the Pitṛs—especially while traveling—and on the new-moon day (amāvāsyā) of the dark fortnight (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa), śrāddha should certainly be performed.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'puṣṭiḥ', 'definition': 'nourishment

• well-being'}, {'term': 'āyuḥ', 'definition': 'life-span

• longevity'}, {'term': 'vīryam', 'definition': 'vigor

• potency'}, {'term': 'śrīḥ', 'definition': 'prosperity

• auspiciousness'}, {'term': 'pitṛ-bhaktiḥ', 'definition': 'devotion to the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• filial piety toward forebears'}, {'term': 'pitaraḥ (Pitṛs)', 'definition': 'ancestral spirits

• forefathers as recipients of rites'}, {'term': 'udaka-dāna (implied by context)', 'definition': 'offering of water (tarpana) to the ancestors'}, {'term': 'śrāddha (contextual)', 'definition': 'ancestral rite/oblation performed with faith for the benefit of the Pitṛs'}, {'term': 'kṛṣṇa-pakṣa (contextual)', 'definition': 'the dark fortnight of the lunar month'}, {'term': 'amāvāsyā (contextual)', 'definition': 'new-moon day

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• amāvāsyā (new-moon day)
• kṛṣṇa-pakṣa (dark fortnight)
• śrāddha
• udaka (water offering/tarpana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Devotion to the ancestors (pitṛbhakti), expressed through rites like water-offering and śrāddha—especially on amāvāsyā—yields well-being (puṣṭi), longevity (āyuḥ), vigor (vīrya), and prosperity (śrī). The verse frames ancestral gratitude as a sustaining pillar of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on duties and observances. Here he is teaching the proper regard for the Pitṛs, recommending focused offerings and highlighting the new-moon of the dark fortnight as an important occasion for śrāddha.