Shloka 96

ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana

River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor

Devanagari script

पुराण: शाश्वतो धर्म: सर्वप्राणभूतां सम:

Transliteration

purāṇaḥ śāśvato dharmaḥ sarvaprāṇabhūtānāṃ samaḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “The ancient, eternal law of righteousness is this: it is impartial toward all living beings.”

Word by Word

• पुराणः: ancient
• पुराणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शाश्वतः: eternal
• शाश्वतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma; righteousness; law
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वप्राणभूतानाम्: of all living beings
• सर्वप्राणभूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वप्राणभूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• समः: equal; impartial
• समः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma, in its oldest and most enduring form, is defined by impartiality and equal concern for all living beings—an ethical standard that supports compassion and non-harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the foundations of righteous conduct, emphasizing a universal principle: dharma must be even-handed toward every creature.