Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 115

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

महात्मनो5तिगुह्यानि न वक्तव्यानि कर्िचित्‌ । अगम्याक्ष न गच्छेत राज्ञ: पत्नी सखीस्तथा

Transliteration

mahātmano ’tiguhyāni na vaktavyāni karhicit | agamyāḥ striyo na gacchet rājñaḥ patnīḥ sakhīs tathā ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ମହାତ୍ମା ପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କର ଅତିଗୁହ୍ୟ ବିଷୟ କେବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ଯେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନେ ‘ଅଗମ୍ୟ’ (ଯାହାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଯିବା ନିଷିଦ୍ଧ), ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ କେବେ ନ ସମୀପିବା, ନ ତାଙ୍କ ସହ ସଙ୍ଗ କରିବା। ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପତ୍ନୀମାନଙ୍କ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ସଖୀମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• महात्मनः: of a great-souled (man)
• महात्मनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अतिगुह्यानि: very secret (matters)
• अतिगुह्यानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिगुह्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वक्तव्यानि: to be spoken / should be told
• वक्तव्यानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्तव्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• कर्हिचित्: ever, at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्हिचित्

• अगम्याः: not to be approached
• अगम्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगम्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• गच्छेत्: should go / should approach
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पत्नी: wife
• पत्नी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सखीः: female friends/companions
• सखीः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• king’s wives (rājñaḥ patnīḥ)
• female companions/friends (sakhīḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain confidentiality regarding the private affairs of the virtuous, and practice strict self-restraint by avoiding forbidden relationships—especially any approach to the king’s wives or women under royal protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s dharma-instruction discourse (Anushasana Parva), he lays down practical rules of conduct: guarding others’ secrets and observing clear social and ethical boundaries, particularly in matters involving women connected to the royal household.