Shloka 24

Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications

Devanagari script

शिष्टाचार: प्रियो येषु दमो येषु प्रतिष्ठित: । सुखं दुःखं सम॑ येषां सत्यं येषां परायणम्‌

Transliteration

śiṣṭācāraḥ priyo yeṣu damo yeṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ | sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ samaṁ yeṣāṁ satyaṁ yeṣāṁ parāyaṇam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : Ceux pour qui la conduite des justes est chère ; en qui la maîtrise de soi (dama) est solidement établie ; pour qui plaisir et peine sont tenus pour égaux ; et pour qui la vérité est le refuge suprême — de tels êtres incarnent l’idéal éthique inébranlable qui soutient le dharma.

Word by Word

• शिष्टाचारः: good conduct, proper etiquette
• शिष्टाचारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्टाचार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रियः: dear, beloved
• प्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• येषु: in whom/for whom
• येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• दमः: self-control, restraint
• दमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• येषु: in whom
• येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• प्रतिष्ठितः: established, firmly set
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-स्था
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

• सुखम्: happiness, pleasure
• सुखम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दुःखम्: sorrow, pain
• दुःखम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• समम्: equal, the same
• समम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• येषाम्: of whom/for whom
• येषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• येषाम्: of whom/whose
• येषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• परायणम्: supreme refuge/goal, final resort
• परायणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परायण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines a dharmic character-type: one who loves the standards of the righteous (śiṣṭācāra), is grounded in self-restraint (dama), remains even-minded in pleasure and pain, and takes truth as the highest support. Together these mark inner steadiness and moral reliability.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he lists qualities that identify truly virtuous persons, emphasizing disciplined conduct, equanimity, and unwavering commitment to truth.