Shloka 7

अहिंसा-आत्मौपम्य-उपदेशः | Instruction on Ahiṃsā and Self-Comparison Ethics

Devanagari script

ग्रीवां ज्येष्ठा च राजेन्द्र श्रवणेन तु कर्णयो: । मुखं पुष्येण दानेन दन्तोष्ठी स्वातिरुच्यते

Transliteration

grīvāṁ jyeṣṭhā ca rājendra śravaṇena tu karṇayoḥ | mukhaṁ puṣyeṇa dānena dantoṣṭhī svātir ucyate ||

Translation

ରାଜେନ୍ଦ୍ର! ଗ୍ରୀବା ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠାର ଅଧୀନ, କର୍ଣ୍ଣଦ୍ୱୟ ଶ୍ରବଣର ଅଧୀନ; ଦାନଧର୍ମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ମୁଖ ପୁଷ୍ୟର ଅଧୀନ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ, ଏବଂ ଦାନ୍ତ ଓ ଓଠ ସ୍ୱାତୀର ଅଧୀନ ବୋଲି ଉଚ୍ଚାରିତ।

Word by Word

• ग्रीवाम्: neck
• ग्रीवाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीवा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ज्येष्ठा: Jyeṣṭhā (asterism/name); the eldest
• ज्येष्ठा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• श्रवणेन: by/with hearing; by the ear
• श्रवणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कर्णयोः: of the two ears
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• मुखम्: mouth/face
• मुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पुष्येण: by Puṣya (asterism)
• पुष्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दानेन: by giving; by gift
• दानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दन्तोष्ठी: teeth-and-lips (region/feature)
• दन्तोष्ठी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तोष्ठी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वातिः: Svātī (asterism)
• स्वातिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said/called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira (implied by rājendra)
• Jyeṣṭhā (nakṣatra)
• Śravaṇa (nakṣatra)
• Puṣya (nakṣatra)
• Svātī (nakṣatra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a traditional mapping of bodily features to specific nakṣatras, and highlights that virtuous action—especially dāna (generosity)—is a key factor in auspiciousness and well-being, aligning one’s life with sacred order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional dialogue, Bhīṣma continues advising the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on dharma-related observances and auspicious frameworks, here describing which nakṣatras are said to preside over particular parts of the body.