Shloka 10

राज्ञोऽभिषेकः, अराजकदोषः, दण्डधारणस्य आवश्यकता

Royal Consecration, the Fault of Kinglessness, and the Necessity of Enforcement

Devanagari script

आह्रिकं पितृयज्ञांश्व भूतयज्ञान्‌ समानुषान्‌ । कुर्वतः पार्थ विपुलान्‌ वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्‌

Transliteration

āhrikaṃ pitṛyajñāṃś ca bhūtayajñān samānuṣān | kurvataḥ pārtha vipulān vanyāśramapadaṃ bhavet ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O Pārtha, for one who performs in abundant measure the daily obligatory rites, the offerings to the ancestors, the sacrifice to beings, and the human-directed sacrifice (hospitality to guests), there arises the very merit that is attained by entering the forest-dweller’s stage of life (vānaprastha).”

Word by Word

• {'āhrikam': 'daily obligatory observances (nitya-karman), especially sandhyā rites and routine duties', 'pitṛyajñān': 'rites/sacrifices to the ancestors

• śrāddha and related offerings', 'bhūtayajñān': 'offerings to living beings/creatures

• acts that sustain and protect life (e.g., feeding, non-harm, sharing)', 'samānuṣān (mānuṣa-yajña)': 'human sacrifice in the sense of service to humans—hospitality to guests (atithi-sevā), charity, care', 'kurvataḥ': 'of one who performs/practices', 'pārtha': 'O son of Pṛthā (Arjuna)', 'vipulān': 'abundant, extensive, in great measure', 'vanya-āśrama-padam': 'the status/fruit of the forest-dweller stage (vānaprastha)', 'bhavet': 'comes to be

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Arjuna (Partha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches that steadfast performance of daily duties and the four key social-sacrificial obligations—toward ancestors, living beings, and guests—can yield the same spiritual merit as formally adopting the vānaprastha (forest-dweller) stage. Dharma is measured by sustained practice and generosity, not only by external renunciation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Arjuna on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he emphasizes household-based disciplines—daily rites, śrāddha, care for beings, and hospitality—presenting them as a powerful path whose fruit equals that of the forest-ascetic life.