Shloka 17
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
Devanagari script
बलज्येष्ठं स्मृतं क्षत्रं मन्त्रज्येष्ठा द्विजातय: । धनज्येष्ठा: स्मृता वैश्या: शूद्रास्तु ववसाधिका:,'क्षत्रियजातिमें जो बलमें अधिक हो, वही श्रेष्ठ माना गया है। ब्राह्मण वेदमन्त्रोंके ज्ञानसे, वैश्य अधिक धनसे और शूद्र अधिक आयु होनेसे श्रेष्ठ समझे जाते हैं
Translation
“Among kshatriyas, superiority is remembered to belong to the one who excels in strength. Among the twice-born (brahmanas), superiority belongs to the one who excels in Vedic mantras. Among vaishyas, superiority is said to belong to those who excel in wealth. But among shudras, superiority belongs to those who excel in service and labor.”
Word by Word
बलज्येष्ठम्having strength as the criterion of superiority / strongest
बलज्येष्ठम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबल-ज्येष्ठ
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
स्मृतम्is said/remembered (as)
स्मृतम्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृ (धातु)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)
क्षत्रम्the Kshatra (Kshatriya order)
क्षत्रम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
मन्त्रज्येष्ठाःhaving mantras as the criterion of superiority / foremost in mantras
मन्त्रज्येष्ठाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्त्र-ज्येष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
द्विजातयःthe twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
द्विजातयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजाति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धनज्येष्ठाःhaving wealth as the criterion of superiority / richest
धनज्येष्ठाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधन-ज्येष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्मृताःare said/remembered (as)
स्मृताः:
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृ (धातु)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
वैश्याःVaishyas
वैश्याः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शूद्राःShudras
शूद्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तुbut/and (contrastive)
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
ववसाधिकाःhaving age/longevity as the criterion of superiority / longer-lived
ववसाधिकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवयस्-अधिक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes