Shloka 5

Devanagari script

त्यागस्य चापि सम्पत्ति: शिष्यते तप उत्तमम्‌ | सदोपवासी च भवेद्‌ ब्रह्मचारी तथैव च

Transliteration

tyāgasya cāpi sampattiḥ śiṣyate tapa uttamam | sadopavāsī ca bhaved brahmacārī tathaiva ca ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “The true ‘wealth’ of renunciation is taught to be the highest austerity. One should live in continual fasting (self-restraint in food) and likewise remain a brahmacārin—disciplined in celibacy and conduct.”

Word by Word

• त्यागस्य: of renunciation
• त्यागस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्याग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सम्पत्तिः: prosperity; attainment
• सम्पत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• शिष्यते: is taught/declared
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास्
• Form: Present, Passive (Karmani), Third, Singular

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: supreme; best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• उपवासी: one who fasts
• उपवासी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवासिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भवेत्: should be/become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student; one observing brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma frames renunciation as a real spiritual ‘wealth’ and identifies the highest tapas as disciplined self-restraint—especially control of appetite (upavāsa) and celibate, regulated conduct (brahmacarya).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he emphasizes ascetic disciplines as practical expressions of renunciation, presenting fasting and brahmacarya as exemplary vows.