Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

उत्तरां दिशमश्रित्य य एधन्ते निबोध तान्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | uttarāṃ diśam āśritya ye edhante nibodha tān | ṛṣir ugraśravāś caiva bhārgavaś cyavanas tathā ||

Translation

भीष्म ने कहा—जो उत्तर दिशा का आश्रय लेकर वृद्धि और प्रतिष्ठा पाते हैं, उन्हें सुनो—ऋषि उग्रश्रवा तथा भृगुवंशी च्यवन।

Word by Word

• उत्तराम्: northern (direction)
• उत्तराम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (दिश्-विशेषण)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु: श्रि)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एधन्ते: prosper / grow
• एधन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: एध्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, 3rd, Plural

• निबोध: know / understand (listen to)
• निबोध: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-बुध् (धातु: बुध्)
• Form: Imperative, Parasmaipada, 2nd, Singular

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उग्रश्रवाः: Ugraśravas (proper name)
• उग्रश्रवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्रश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भार्गवः: Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्यवनः: Cyavana (proper name)
• श्यवनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्यवन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and also / likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Northern direction (Uttarā diś)
• Sage Ugraśravas
• Bhārgava lineage
• Sage Cyavana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical-religious idea common in dharma literature: orientation toward auspicious sacred space (here, the northern direction) is linked with spiritual and social flourishing, exemplified by revered sages and lineages.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma continues a catalog-like instruction to Yudhishthira, naming sages who are said to prosper by resorting to the northern direction; in this verse he specifically mentions Ugraśravas and the Bhārgava sage Cyavana.