Shloka 26

Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

यस्त्वत्र मन्त्रसमयो भारयपत्योर्मिथ: कृत: । तमेवाहुर्गरीयांसं यश्चासौ ज्ञातिभि: कृत:

Transliteration

yas tv atra mantrasamayo bhāryāpatyor mithaḥ kṛtaḥ | tam evāhur garīyāṁsaṁ yaś cāsau jñātibhiḥ kṛtaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ପତି ଓ ପତ୍ନୀ ପରସ୍ପର ମନ୍ତ୍ରୋଚ୍ଚାରଣପୂର୍ବକ ଯେ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କରନ୍ତି, ସେହି ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞାକୁ ହିଁ ସର୍ବାଧିକ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଓ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ। ଏବଂ ସେଇ ବନ୍ଧନକୁ ଯଦି ଜ୍ଞାତି-ବନ୍ଧୁମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରି ସମର୍ଥନ ଦିଅନ୍ତି, ତେବେ ତାହା ଆଉ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ରଶଂସନୀୟ—କାରଣ ତାହାରେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ବ୍ରତ ସହ ସାମାଜିକ ସ୍ୱୀକୃତି ଓ ସ୍ଥିରତା ଯୁକ୍ତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

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

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

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• मन्त्र-समयः: vowed agreement with mantra-recitation (solemn pact)
• मन्त्र-समयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रसमय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भार्या-पत्योः: of wife and husband
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्यापति
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• मिथः: mutually/with each other
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः

• कृतः: made/done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• आहुः: they say/call
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• गरीयांसम्: more weighty/superior
• गरीयांसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरीयस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Comparative

• यः: and who/that which
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• असौ: that (aforementioned) one
• असौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अदस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ज्ञातिभिः: by kinsmen/relatives
• ज्ञातिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कृतः: made/done (ratified)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• husband (pati)
• wife (bhāryā)
• kinsmen/relatives (jñāti)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A marital bond is strongest when it is a mutual vow solemnized through proper ritual (mantra-recitation). Its ethical force becomes even firmer when the wider family (kinsmen) also affirms it, joining personal commitment with social responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is instructing on dharma-related norms, explaining which kind of marital commitment is considered most authoritative: the spouses’ ritually sanctified mutual pledge, especially when supported by relatives.