Shloka 25

Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa

Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows

Devanagari script

आर्जवे च तथा शूरा: शमे वर्तन्ति मानवा: । तैस्तैश्न नियमै: शूरा बहव: सन्ति चापरे । वेदाध्ययनशूराश्व शूराश्षाध्यापने रता:

Transliteration

ārjave ca tathā śūrāḥ śame vartante mānavāḥ | tais taiś ca niyamaiḥ śūrā bahavaḥ santi cāpare | vedādhyayanaśūrāś ca śūrāś cādhyāpane ratāḥ |

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «Certains sont des “héros” dans la droiture ; d’autres manifestent leur vaillance par la maîtrise de soi et le calme intérieur. D’autres encore sont réputés héroïques en observant diverses disciplines et règles. Il en est aussi qui sont héroïques dans l’étude du Veda, et héroïques dans l’enseignement.»

Word by Word

• आर्जवे: in straightforwardness
• आर्जवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्जव (आर्जव-)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• शूराः: heroes/brave ones
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (शूर-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शमे: in self-control/peace
• शमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम (शम-)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वर्तन्ति: conduct themselves / abide
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• मानवाः: people/men
• मानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (मानव-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तैः: by those (various)
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• नियमैः: by disciplines/rules
• नियमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (नियम-)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शूराः: heroes
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (शूर-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• बहवः: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (बहु-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सन्ति: are/exist
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (अस्ति)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• अपरे: others
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (अपर-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वेदाध्ययनशूराः: heroes in Veda-study
• वेदाध्ययनशूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदाध्ययनशूर (वेद + अध्ययन + शूर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• शूराः: heroes
• शूराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर (शूर-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अध्यापने: in teaching
• अध्यापने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यापन (अध्यापन-)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रताः: engaged/devoted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (√रम् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Heroism is not limited to battlefield courage; it can be expressed as moral integrity (ārjava), mental restraint (śama), disciplined observances (niyama), and dedication to sacred learning and teaching (vedādhyayana, adhyāpana).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma, he broadens the meaning of ‘śūra’ (hero) by listing non-martial forms of valor—ethical conduct, self-mastery, disciplined living, and commitment to Vedic study and instruction.