Shloka 81

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

मातरं पितरं वापि बान्धवान्‌ सुहृदस्तथा

Transliteration

mātaraṃ pitaraṃ vāpi bāndhavān suhṛdas tathā

Translation

ജംബൂകൻ പറഞ്ഞു—മാതാവായാലും പിതാവായാലും, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ബന്ധുക്കളും സുഹൃത്തുക്കളും ആയാലും…

Word by Word

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

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

• बान्धवान्: kinsmen/relatives
• बान्धवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुहृदः: friends/well-wishers
• सुहृदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: likewise/and also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

जम्बुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Jambuka
• mother
• father
• kinsmen/relatives
• friends/well-wishers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the moral seriousness of one’s conduct toward the closest human bonds—parents, relatives, and friends—implying that dharma is tested first in how one treats those to whom one owes gratitude, care, and loyalty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Jambuka is speaking within the Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse. This half-verse opens a list-like statement, setting up a broader point about duties and ethical behavior toward one’s immediate social circle.