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Shloka 139

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

आगममश्न पुराणानां महर्षीणां च सम्भव: । तीर्थवंशश्व॒ वंशश्व नक्षत्राणां युधिष्ठिर

āgamam aśna purāṇānāṁ maharṣīṇāṁ ca sambhavaḥ | tīrthavaṁśaś ca vaṁśaś ca nakṣatrāṇāṁ yudhiṣṭhira ||

ビーシュマは言った。「ユディシュティラよ、プラーナ(Purāṇa)の権威ある伝承、大聖仙(マハーリシ)たちの起源、聖なる渡し場・巡礼地(ティールタ tīrtha)に結びつく諸系譜、さらに星宿(ナクシャトラ nakṣatra)の系譜と配列—これらはすでに説き明かされた。」

आगमम्tradition; scripture; authoritative teaching
आगमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआगम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अश्नhe eats/consumes
अश्न:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअश्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
पुराणानाम्of the Purāṇas
पुराणानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपुराण
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
महर्षीणाम्of the great seers
महर्षीणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहर्षि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सम्भवःorigin; coming into being
सम्भवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसम्भव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तीर्थवंशःthe lineage/series of sacred fords (tīrthas)
तीर्थवंशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतीर्थवंश
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वंशःlineage; dynasty
वंशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवंश
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
नक्षत्राणाम्of the constellations/lunar mansions
नक्षत्राणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira
युधिष्ठिर:
TypeNoun
Rootयुधिष्ठिर
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
P
Purāṇas
M
Maharṣis
T
Tīrthas
N
Nakṣatras

Educational Q&A

Bhīṣma underscores that dharma and nīti are supported by a broad sacred knowledge-system: authoritative tradition (āgama), Purāṇic memory, the exemplary origins of seers, the sanctity and lineages of tīrthas, and the cosmic ordering of nakṣatras. Ethical life and governance are thus linked to inherited wisdom and the structure of the world.

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira after the war. Here he is listing domains of traditional knowledge that have been (or are being) expounded—Purāṇas, seer-origins, tīrtha traditions, and nakṣatra genealogies—framing the instruction as comprehensive and rooted in sacred precedent.