Shloka 29

Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

अध्यापककुले जात: श्रोत्रियो नियतेन्द्रिय:

Transliteration

adhyāpakakule jātaḥ śrotriyo niyatendriyaḥ

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ആചാര്യകുടുംബത്തിൽ ജനിച്ച്, വേദത്തിൽ പാണ്ഡിത്യമുള്ളവനും ഇന്ദ്രിയസംയമനമുള്ളവനും ആയവൻ; വിനയം, സദാചാരം, അന്തഃസംയമം എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

अध्यापककुलेin a teacher's family

जातःborn

श्रोत्रियःa Veda-learned Brahmin (śrotriya)

नियतइन्द्रियःone whose senses are restrained

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True worth is indicated not merely by birth but by disciplined learning and self-restraint: a properly Veda-trained person (śrotriya) who controls the senses (niyatendriya) embodies dharmic character.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and right conduct, describing the qualities that define an exemplary, ethically grounded person—here emphasizing Vedic training and mastery over the senses.