Shloka 26
आचारप्रशंसा
Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity
Devanagari script
प्रदक्षिणं च कुर्वीत परिज्ञातान् वनस्पतीन्
Transliteration
pradakṣiṇaṃ ca kurvīta parijñātān vanaspatīn
Translation
भीष्म ने कहा—जो वृक्ष भली-भाँति परिचित और पहचाने गए हों, उनकी भी श्रद्धापूर्वक प्रदक्षिणा करनी चाहिए; ज्ञात वनस्पतियों को भी आदर और सावधानी के योग्य मानना चाहिए।
Word by Word
प्रदक्षिणम्circumambulation (keeping the right side towards)
प्रदक्षिणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रदक्षिण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
कुर्वीतshould do / should perform
कुर्वीत:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormVidhi-linga (Optative), injunctive/optative sense (should do), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
परिज्ञातान्well-known / recognized
परिज्ञातान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि-ज्ञा (क्त)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वनस्पतीन्trees / lords of the forest
वनस्पतीन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवनस्पति
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaV
vanaspati (trees/forest plants)P
pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Dharmic conduct includes reverence toward the natural world: one should honor recognized trees/plants through respectful gestures like pradakṣiṇā, fostering humility and non-harm.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on right conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he prescribes a specific practice—circumambulating well-known trees—presenting it as part of ethical and ritual discipline.