Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18
Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ
Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas
Devanagari script
अहिंसा सर्वभूते भ्य: संविभागश्चन भागश:
Transliteration
ahiṃsā sarvabhūtebhyaḥ saṃvibhāgaś ca na bhāgaśaḥ
Translation
भीष्म बोले—“समस्त प्राणियों के प्रति अहिंसा, और संविभाग—अर्थात् बाँटकर, समान भाव से देना; स्वार्थपूर्ण विभाजन नहीं—यही धर्माचरण है।”
Word by Word
अहिंसाnon-violence
अहिंसा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वभूतेभ्यःto all beings
सर्वभूतेभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Dative, Plural
संविभागःsharing; distribution
संविभागः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसंविभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
भागशःin shares; proportionately
भागशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभागशस् (अव्यय)
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes two pillars of dharma: ahiṃsā (not harming any being) and saṃvibhāga (sharing one’s resources), ideally done without a divisive, self-centered sense of “my share versus yours.”
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct. Here he states a concise ethical maxim highlighting non-violence and generous sharing as key duties.