Shloka 21

Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences

Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

एवं शरीरशौचेन तीर्थशौचेन चान्वित: । शुचि: सिद्धिमवाप्रोति द्विविधं शौचमुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

evaṁ śarīra-śaucena tīrtha-śaucena cānvitaḥ | śuciḥ siddhim avāpnoti dvividhaṁ śaucam uttamam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma bersabda: Sesiapa yang dikurniai kesucian tubuh dan kesucian yang diperoleh melalui tīrtha (tempat suci), menjadi benar-benar suci dan mencapai kesempurnaan rohani. Kesucian yang dua lapis inilah dinyatakan sebagai yang paling utama.

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

शरीर-शौचेनby bodily purity/cleansing

तीर्थ-शौचेनby purity from pilgrimage/holy places (ritual bathing etc.)

चand

अन्वितःendowed (with), possessed of

शुचिःpure, clean

सिद्धिम्success, attainment, perfection

अवाप्नोतिattains, obtains

द्विविधम्twofold, of two kinds

शौचम्purity, cleanliness

उत्तमम्excellent, best

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the highest purity is twofold: maintaining bodily cleanliness and cultivating sanctifying purity associated with tīrthas (sacred places/rites). When both are present, one becomes truly pure and attains spiritual success.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he emphasizes the value of śauca (purity), presenting it as a practical ethical discipline that supports spiritual attainment.