Shloka 36

Devanagari script

अपरे बाहुबलिन: कृतविद्या मनस्विन: । जुगुप्सितां च कृपणां पापवृत्तिमुपासते,“दूसरे बहुत-से बाहुबलसे सम्पन्न विद्वान्‌ और मनस्वी मनुष्य दीन, निन्दित एवं पापपूर्ण वृत्तिसे जीविका चलाते हैं

Transliteration

apare bāhubalinaḥ kṛtavidyā manasvinaḥ | jugupsitāṃ ca kṛpaṇāṃ pāpavṛttim upāsate ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: “Ada juga yang lain—lelaki yang dikurniai kekuatan jasmani, sempurna dalam ilmu, dan teguh azam—namun tetap menyara diri dengan cara mencari nafkah yang hina, menjijikkan, dan berdosa.”

Word by Word

अपरेothers

बाहुबलिनःstrong-armed, possessing physical strength

कृतविद्याःeducated, having acquired learning

मनस्विनःhigh-minded, spirited

जुगुप्सिताम्despised, censured

चand

कृपणाम्wretched, miserly/mean, pitiable

पापवृत्तिम्sinful livelihood/occupation

उपासतेthey resort to, practice

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?

Even strength, education, and a noble mind do not guarantee righteous living; one must choose a dharmic means of livelihood, because adopting a base and sinful occupation corrupts character and undermines ethical order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he is describing a moral failing seen in society: capable and learned people still take up contemptible, sinful ways of earning, highlighting the need for vigilance about conduct and livelihood.