Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

सेवितं सततं राजन पुरा राजर्षिसत्तमै: । क्षत्रधर्मपरैर्नित्यं सत्यव्रतपरायणै:

Transliteration

sevitaṃ satataṃ rājan purā rājarṣisattamaiḥ | kṣatradharmaparair nityaṃ satyavrataparāyaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಪುರಾತನ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಧರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸಮರ್ಪಿತರಾಗಿ, ಸತ್ಯವ್ರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ರಾಜರ್ಷಿಗಳು ಈ (ಮಂತ್ರ/ಆಚರಣೆ) ಯನ್ನು ಸದಾ ಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು; ಅದನ್ನು ನಿರಂತರ ಜಪಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

Word by Word

• सेवितम्: practised/observed
• सेवितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेवित (√सेव्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सततम्: always, continually
• सततम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient times
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• राजर्षि-सत्तमैः: by the best of royal sages
• राजर्षि-सत्तमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि-सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षत्र-धर्म-परैः: by those devoted to kshatriya-duty
• क्षत्र-धर्म-परैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत्रधर्मपर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• सत्य-व्रत-परायणैः: by those wholly devoted to the vow of truth
• सत्य-व्रत-परायणैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यव्रतपरायण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• King (Yudhiṣṭhira, addressed as rājan)
• Royal sages (rājarṣis)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds an ethical ideal for rulers: true kṣatriya-dharma is inseparable from satya (truth). The highest kings are portrayed as those who continually practice a revered discipline (implied mantra/observance) while remaining unwavering in truthful vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing the king, appeals to ancient precedent: he says that the foremost royal sages of earlier times constantly practiced/recited this tradition, emphasizing their devotion to warrior-duty and truth as the model for present conduct.