Shloka 78

आचारप्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

जिसे दीर्घ कालतक जीवित रहनेकी इच्छा हो, वह ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय और सर्प--इन तीनोंके दुर्बल होनेपर भी इनको न छेड़े; क्योंकि ये सभी बड़े जहरीले होते हैं ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

yaḥ dīrgha-kālaṁ jīvitum icchet sa brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-sarpa—etān trīn api durbalān na hiṁsyāt/na spṛśet | te hi sarve mahā-viṣāḥ | sarpaḥ kruddho yāvat cakṣuṣā paśyati tāvat dhāvati daśati ca | kṣatriyo ’pi kruddho yāvat tejasā spṛśati tāvat śatruṁ bhasmīkartum īhate | brāhmaṇas tu kruddho dṛṣṭyā saṅkalpena ca avamāninam puruṣaṁ tasya kulaṁ samantāt dagdhum arhati | tasmāt budhaḥ puruṣaḥ etān trīn yathāvat yatnena seveta ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ଦୀର୍ଘାୟୁ ଚାହେ, ସେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ଓ ସର୍ପ—ଏ ତିନିଜଣଙ୍କୁ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଭାବିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଉତ୍ତେଜିତ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; କାରଣ ଏମାନେ ତିନିଜଣ ହିଁ ନିଜ-ନିଜ ଭାବରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଘାତକ। କ୍ରୁଦ୍ଧ ସର୍ପ ଯେତେଦୂର ଚକ୍ଷୁ ପହଞ୍ଚେ ସେତେଦୂର ଝପଟି ଦଂଶେ; କ୍ରୁଦ୍ଧ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ନିଜ ତେଜର ସୀମା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଶତ୍ରୁକୁ ଭସ୍ମ କରିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କୁପିତ ହେଲେ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ଓ ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପବଳରେ ଅପମାନକାରୀର ସମଗ୍ର କୁଳକୁ ଦଗ୍ଧ କରିପାରେ। ତେଣୁ ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ଲୋକ ଯତ୍ନପୂର୍ବକ ଏ ତିନିଜଣଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ମାନ ଓ ସେବା କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• दहति: burns
• दहति: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह्
• Form: Lat, Present, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आशीविषः: a venomous serpent
• आशीविषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीविष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यावत्: as far as / so long as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• पश्यति: sees
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Lat, Present, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• चक्षुषा: with the eye
• चक्षुषा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• क्षत्रियः: a Kshatriya (warrior)
• क्षत्रियः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दहेत्: would burn / may burn
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह्
• Form: Vidhi-lin, Optative, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यावत्: as far as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• स्पृशति: touches
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश्
• Form: Lat, Present, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेजसा: with (his) power/energy
• तेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Brahmin (Brāhmaṇa)
• Kshatriya (Kṣatriya)
• Serpent/Snake (Sarpa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not underestimate or provoke sources of concentrated power—spiritual (Brahmin), political-military (Kshatriya), or natural (serpent). Even when they appear weak, their retaliatory capacity can be devastating; therefore, prudent respect and careful conduct are advised.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on conduct and prudence, he uses a graded comparison: a snake harms within its sight, a Kshatriya within the reach of his prowess, and a Brahmin—through ascetic-spiritual potency—can ruin an offender’s lineage by resolve. The point is to counsel restraint and respectful behavior toward these potent beings.