Shloka 28

Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

प्रभवन्‌ पृच्छते यो हि सम्मानयति वा पुन: । नूनं जनमदुष्टात्मा पण्डिताख्यां स गच्छति

Transliteration

prabhavan pṛcchate yo hi sammānayati vā punaḥ | nūnaṃ janam aduṣṭātmā paṇḍitākhyāṃ sa gacchati ||

Translation

ମହେଶ୍ୱର କହିଲେ—ଯେ ଲୋକ ସମର୍ଥ କିମ୍ବା ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିନୟରେ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କରେ, କିମ୍ବା ପୁନଃ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ମାନ କରେ—ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଦୁଷ୍ଟଚିତ୍ତ ନୁହେଁ; ସେ ପଣ୍ଡିତର ଖ୍ୟାତି ଓ ପଦ ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• प्रभवन्: a powerful/superior person
• प्रभवन्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभवत् (प्र + √भू)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृच्छते: asks
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• सम्मानयति: honors/respects
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √मान्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• पुनः: again/further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• नूनम्: surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम्

• जनम्: people/persons
• जनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अदुष्टात्मा: one whose mind is not wicked; pure-minded
• अदुष्टात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदुष्टात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पण्डिताख्याम्: the designation/title of 'learned' (i.e., the name 'pandita')
• पण्डिताख्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डिताख्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गच्छति: attains/goes to
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī-Maheśvara (Śiva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True learning is marked by humility and respect: even the capable person who still inquires and honors others is of pure disposition and gains the recognized status of a paṇḍita (learned person).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused discourse, Maheśvara states a criterion for genuine wisdom: the virtuous character shown through respectful conduct and willingness to ask questions.