Shloka 12

Devanagari script

दानेन भोगी भवति मेधावी वृद्धसेवया । अहिंसया च दीर्घायुरिति प्राहुमनीषिण:

Transliteration

dānena bhogī bhavati medhāvī vṛddhasevayā | ahiṃsayā ca dīrghāyur iti prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「賢者たちはこう説く。施しによって人は享楽の資を得、長老に仕えることで真の知恵を得、そして不殺生（アヒンサー）を行ずることで長寿を得る。」

Word by Word

• दानेन: by/through giving (charity)
• दानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भोगी: an enjoyer; one who has enjoyments
• भोगी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवति: becomes
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मेधावी: intelligent; wise
• मेधावी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृद्धसेवया: by service to elders
• वृद्धसेवया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धसेवा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अहिंसया: by non-violence
• अहिंसया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिंसा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• दीर्घायुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• प्राहुः: they said; they declare
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मनीषिणः: the sages; the wise
• मनीषिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• manīṣiṇaḥ (the wise/sages)
• vṛddhāḥ (elders, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links three ethical disciplines with their fruits: charity brings material well-being and enjoyments, serving elders cultivates intelligence and good judgment, and non-violence supports longevity. It presents dharma as practically beneficial as well as morally right.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he cites the consensus of the wise (manīṣiṇaḥ) to summarize how key virtues—dāna, vṛddha-sevā, and ahiṃsā—shape a person’s life and character.