Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 29

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

ऋतुकालाभिगामी च नियतो नियताशन: । चोक्षश्नोक्षजनान्वेषी शेषान्नकृतभोजन:

Transliteration

ṛtukālābhigāmī ca niyato niyatāśanaḥ | cokṣaśnokṣajanānveṣī śeṣānna-kṛtabhojanaḥ ||

Translation

श्री महेश्वर बोले—“वह ऋतुकाल में ही स्त्री के पास जाए; संयमी रहे और नियमित भोजन करे। इन्द्रिय-विषयों में आसक्त न हो, स्त्रियों की खोज में न भटके, और शेषान्न (यज्ञादि के उपरान्त बचा अन्न) का ही भोजन करे।”

Word by Word

• ऋतुकालाभिगामी: one who approaches (his wife) in the proper season
• ऋतुकालाभिगामी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋतुकालाभिगामिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• नियतः: disciplined, restrained
• नियतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नियताशनः: one of regulated diet/food
• नियताशनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियताशन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• उक्षश्नः: one who eats (only) after sprinkling/after offering (food); a restrained eater
• उक्षश्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्षश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उक्षजनान्वेषी: one who seeks/associates with the righteous (lit. ‘sprinkled/purified people’)
• उक्षजनान्वेषी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्षजनान्वेषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शेषान्नकृतभोजनः: one who eats food made from leftovers (remnant-food)
• शेषान्नकृतभोजनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेषान्नकृतभोजन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Maheśvara (Śiva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined householder conduct: sexual relations only at the prescribed time (ṛtukāla), moderation and regulation in food, avoidance of lust-driven pursuit, and eating only after fulfilling prior duties such as offerings and serving others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara is laying down behavioral norms as part of a dharma-instruction sequence, describing the marks of a restrained, duty-oriented person—especially in matters of sexuality and daily consumption.