Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

अनिर्विण्ण: स्थविष्ठो5 भूर्धर्मयूपो महामख: । नक्षत्रनेमिर्नक्षत्री क्षम: क्षाम: समीहन:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | anirviṇṇaḥ sthaviṣṭho 'bhūd dharmayūpo mahāmakhaḥ | nakṣatranemir nakṣatrī kṣamaḥ kṣāmaḥ samīhanaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେ ନିରାଶା ଓ ବିକାରରହିତ; ବିରାଟ୍ ରୂପରେ ସ୍ଥିତ; ଅଜନ୍ମା; ଧର୍ମର ସ୍ତମ୍ଭ ଏବଂ ମହାଯଜ୍ଞସ୍ୱରୂପ। ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରଙ୍କ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର; ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରାଧିପତି (ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର); ସମସ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ସମର୍ଥ; ଜଗତର ନିବାସଭୂମି; ଏବଂ ସୃଷ୍ଟି-ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ପାଇଁ ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ଚେଷ୍ଟାଶୀଳ।

Word by Word

• अनिर्विण्णः: unwearied, undepressed
• अनिर्विण्णः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिर्विण्ण (निर्विण्ण)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थविष्ठः: very great, most massive
• स्थविष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थविष्ठ (स्थूल)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभूत्: was / became
• अभूत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (भवति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धर्मयूपः: the sacrificial post of dharma
• धर्मयूपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मयूप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महामखः: the great sacrifice
• महामखः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नक्षत्रनेमिः: the hub/rim of the stars (pivot of the constellations)
• नक्षत्रनेमिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्रनेमि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नक्षत्री: lord of the stars (moon)
• नक्षत्री: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्रिन् (नक्षत्री)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षमः: capable, competent
• क्षमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षामः: abode/support (as interpreted in this context)
• क्षामः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समीहनः: one who strives well; diligent in endeavor
• समीहनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीहन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• Supreme Lord (Vishnu/Narayana as the hymn’s referent)
• Nakṣatras (constellations)
• Candra (Moon, implied by nakṣatrī)
• Yūpa (sacrificial post)
• Makha/Yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The Supreme is presented as the unchanging foundation of dharma and the sustaining center of cosmic order: sacrifice, moral law, and the movements of the heavens are not separate from Him but expressions of His being and governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira and, in a devotional-hymnic mode, enumerates divine epithets describing the Lord’s nature—unborn, vast, the support of righteousness, and the cosmic regulator—linking ethical life (dharma and yajña) with the Lord’s universal sovereignty.