Shloka 5

स्त्रीस्वभावप्रश्नः — Nārada and Pañcacūḍā on Strī-svabhāva

Anuśāsana-parva 38

Devanagari script

न चान्यदिह कर्तव्यं किज्चिदूर्ध्व यथाविधि । गुप्तो गोपायते ब्रह्मा श्रेयो वस्तेन शोभनम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | na cānyad iha kartavyaṃ kiñcid ūrdhvaṃ yathāvidhi | gupto gopāyate brahmā śreyo vastena śobhanam ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ଏଠାରେ ଯଥାବିଧି ଯାହା ବିହିତ, ତାହାଠାରୁ ଅଧିକ କିଛି କରିବାକୁ ନାହିଁ। ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କୁ ରକ୍ଷା କଲେ ସେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରକ୍ଷକଙ୍କୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି; ସେଥିରେ ହିଁ ସତ୍ୟ ଶ୍ରେୟ ଓ ଶୁଭ ନିହିତ। ତେଣୁ ବିଧିମାର୍ଗ ଅନୁସରଣକାରୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସ୍ୱଧର୍ମ ପାଳନ ଓ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ରକ୍ଷା-ସେବାରେ ହିଁ ପରମ କଲ୍ୟାଣ।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• इह: here; in this matter
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done; duty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• किञ्चित्: anything (at all)
• किञ्चित्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किञ्चित्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• ऊर्ध्वम्: beyond; further; above
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व

• यथा: as; according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• विधि: rule; prescribed method
• विधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गुप्तः: protected; guarded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गोपायते: protects; preserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप्
• Form: Present, 3, Singular, Atmanepada

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā / the Brahman (here: the brāhmaṇa principle/person)
• ब्रह्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (ब्रह्मा)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेयः: welfare; highest good
• श्रेयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• वस्तेन: by that thing/means
• वस्तेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस् (वस्तु/वस्त)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शोभनम्: excellent; auspicious; beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (brāhmaṇa/brahma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should not seek duties beyond what is scripturally prescribed; the highest welfare (śreyas) comes from performing one’s ordained dharma and especially from protecting and honoring the Brahmin/sacred knowledge, which is said to reciprocally protect the protector.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma continues his instruction on righteous conduct, emphasizing a social-ethical principle: uphold prescribed duties and safeguard the Brahmin order (and by extension sacred learning), presenting it as a source of mutual protection and ultimate well-being.