Shloka 15

उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः

Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting

Devanagari script

दश चैव पितृन्‌ माता सर्वा वा पृथिवीमपि । गौरवेणाभिभवति नास्ति मातृसमो गुरु:

Transliteration

daśa caiva pitṝn mātā sarvā vā pṛthivīm api | gauraveṇābhibhavati nāsti mātṛ-samo guruḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「母は十人の父にも勝る。まことに、その尊厳と価値の重みによって、母は全大地さえも影に置く。ゆえに、母に等しい師はない。この偈は母への敬愛を倫理の中核的義務として掲げ、母への感謝と奉仕を至高のダルマとして示している。」

Word by Word

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

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

• पितॄन्: fathers/forefathers
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वा: entire/all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• गौरवेण: by (her) dignity/weightiness
• गौरवेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिभवति: overcomes/surpasses
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भू
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मातृ-समः: equal to a mother
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ + सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुरुः: teacher/guru
• गुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mother (mātā)
• fathers/forefathers (pitṛ)
• earth (pṛthivī)
• guru (teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the mother holds the highest claim to reverence and gratitude—surpassing even multiple paternal authorities—and is therefore the foremost 'guru' in one’s moral life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct; here he emphasizes the hierarchy of respect within family and society, placing the mother at the pinnacle.