Shloka 13

Devanagari script

भोज्यमन्नं वदान्यस्य कदर्यस्य न वार्धुषे:

Transliteration

bhojyam annaṃ vadānyasya kadaryasya na vārdhuṣeḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «La nourriture digne d’être consommée doit être acceptée d’un donateur généreux ; elle ne doit pas être prise d’un avare, car elle ne nourrit pas véritablement et n’apporte pas une croissance salutaire.»

Word by Word

• भोज्यम्: to-be-eaten, edible
• भोज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• वदान्यस्य: of a generous (person)
• वदान्यस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वदान्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कदर्यस्य: of a miserly (person)
• कदर्यस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदर्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वार्धुषे: for increase/prosperity
• वार्धुषे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्धुष
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches discernment in accepting support: sustenance (especially food) carries the moral quality of its source. What comes from generosity is considered wholesome and beneficial, while what comes from miserliness is viewed as ethically tainted and not truly conducive to well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhīṣma continues advising on ethical living. Here he gives a practical rule about receiving food: prefer what is offered by the generous and avoid dependence on the miserly.