Shloka 13

Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)

Devanagari script

सर्वकर्मसहा श्षान्ये पार्थिवेष्वितरेषु च । विविधाकारययुक्ताश्न ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ

Transliteration

sarvakarmasahā śāny(e) pārthiveṣv itareṣu ca | vividhākārayuktāś ca brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «Ô taureau parmi les Bhārata, les brāhmaṇas sont capables d’entreprendre toute sorte d’ouvrages, qu’ils soient au service des rois ou parmi les autres hommes. Pourvus de formes et de rôles divers, ils s’adaptent de bien des manières.»

Word by Word

• सर्वकर्मसहाः: capable of all kinds of work
• सर्वकर्मसहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वकर्मसह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पार्थिवेषु: among kings / at kings' (houses)
• पार्थिवेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• इतरेषु: among others
• इतरेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

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

• विविधाकारयुक्ताः: endowed with various forms
• विविधाकारयुक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविधाकारयुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun (Vocative epithet)
• Root: भरतर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharatarshabha (addressed listener, likely Yudhishthira)
• Brahmanas
• Kings (pārthivāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes the versatility and broad competence attributed to Brahmanas: they can perform many kinds of work across royal and non-royal settings, adapting their roles and outward modes as circumstances require, while remaining within the ethical frame of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing the listener (addressed as ‘Bharatarshabha’) on dharma and social conduct. Here he remarks on how Brahmanas function in society—serving kings and others, and taking on diverse roles—within his wider discourse on duties and proper order.