Shloka 145

ज्येष्ठ-कनिष्ठ-धर्मः — Duties of Elders and Juniors

Anuśāsana-parva 108

Devanagari script

नरश्रेष्ठ) माता-पिता और गुरुजनोंकी आज्ञाका अविलम्ब पालन करना चाहिये। इनकी आज्ञा हितकर है या अहितकर, इसका विचार नहीं करना चाहिये ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | narāśreṣṭha, mātā-pitarau ca gurujanānāṃ ca ājñāyā avilambaṃ pālanaṃ kartavyam | eṣām ājñā hitakarī vā ahitakarī veti vicāro na kartavyaḥ || dhanurvede ca vede ca yatnaḥ kāryo narādhipa | hastipṛṣṭhe aśvapṛṣṭhe ca rathacaryāsu caiva ha || nareśvara, kṣatriyeṇa dhanurveda-vedādhyayanayoḥ kṛte yatnaḥ kartavyaḥ | rājendra, tvaṃ hastyaśva-vāhana-kalāyāṃ ratha-hākanāyāṃ ca nipuṇatāṃ prāptuṃ prayatnasva; yataḥ yatnavān puruṣaḥ sukhena unnatiśīlo bhavati, sa śatrūṇāṃ svajanānāṃ bhṛtyānāṃ ca durdharṣo bhavati ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ହେ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ମାତା-ପିତା ଓ ଗୁରୁଜନଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞାକୁ ବିଳମ୍ବ ବିନା ପାଳନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ତାହା ହିତ କି ଅହିତ—ଏହା ବିଚାର କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ଏବଂ ହେ ନରାଧିପ, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟଙ୍କୁ ଧନୁର୍ବେଦ ଓ ବେଦାଧ୍ୟୟନରେ ଯତ୍ନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ହେ ରାଜେନ୍ଦ୍ର, ହାତୀ-ଘୋଡ଼ାରେ ଆରୋହଣ ଓ ରଥଚାଳନା କଳାରେ ନିପୁଣତା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରୟତ୍ନଶୀଳ ହୁଅ; କାରଣ ଯତ୍ନବାନ ପୁରୁଷ ସୁଖପୂର୍ବକ ଉନ୍ନତି କରେ ଏବଂ ଶତ୍ରୁ, ସ୍ୱଜନ ଓ ଭୃତ୍ୟ—ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଦୁର୍ଧର୍ଷ ହୋଇଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• धनुर्वेदे: in the science of archery
• धनुर्वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यत्नः: effort
• यत्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कार्यः: to be done / should be made
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (करणे)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नराधिप: O king (lord of men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• हस्तिपृष्ठे: on an elephant's back
• हस्तिपृष्ठे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिपृष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अश्वपृष्ठे: on a horse's back
• अश्वपृष्ठे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वपृष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• रथचर्यासु: in chariot-driving practices
• रथचर्यासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथचर्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• हि: for / because
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mother (mātā)
• father (pitā)
• elders/teachers (gurujana)
• kshatriya
• Dhanurveda
• Veda
• elephant
• horse
• chariot

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Immediate obedience to parents and revered elders is presented as a foundational duty, and for a kshatriya, disciplined effort in both sacred learning (Vedic study) and practical martial skills (archery, riding, chariot-driving) is essential; sustained effort leads to prosperity and formidable capability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, in his role as moral instructor, is giving prescriptive counsel on conduct and training: he urges prompt compliance with parental/elder authority and outlines the educational and military disciplines a king or kshatriya should cultivate to become effective and respected.