Shloka 276

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

प्रजा विवर्धते चास्य अक्षयं चोपतिष्ठति । यही श्राद्धकी विधि बतायी गयी है

Transliteration

prajā vivardhate cāsya akṣayaṃ copatiṣṭhati |

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : En suivant ce rite prescrit du śrāddha, la lignée d’un homme prospère et une fortune inépuisable se tient auprès de lui. Une telle observance empêche le déclin du dharma ; elle garde les Pitṛs, les ancêtres, continuellement contents et apaisés, et assure que sa descendance croisse sans diminution.

Word by Word

• प्रजा: progeny/subjects
• प्रजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विवर्धते: grows/increases
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (वि-वृध्)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

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

• अस्य: of him/of this (person)
• अस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अक्षयम्: imperishable/undiminishing (prosperity/benefit)
• अक्षयम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• उपतिष्ठति: attends/comes to him; is present
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (उप-स्था)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• śrāddha
• pitaraḥ (ancestors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Proper performance of śrāddha according to prescribed rules sustains dharma, pleases the ancestors, and yields enduring welfare—especially the growth and continuity of one’s progeny and unfailing support in life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma, here emphasizing the results of correctly observing śrāddha: ancestral satisfaction, preservation of righteousness, and the flourishing of one’s lineage with imperishable benefit.