Shloka 27

Brāhmaṇa-vandana: Criteria for Veneration, Disciplined Speech, and Protective Kingship (अनुशासनपर्व, अध्याय ८)

Devanagari script

भूय: स्यादुभयं दत्तं ब्राह्मणाद्‌ यदकोपनात्‌ । कुर्यादुभयत: शेषं दत्तशेषं न शेषयेत्‌

Transliteration

bhūyaḥ syād ubhayaṁ dattaṁ brāhmaṇād yad akopanāt | kuryād ubhayataḥ śeṣaṁ dattaśeṣaṁ na śeṣayet ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—“ପୁନର୍ବାର ଶୁଣ: କ୍ରୋଧରହିତ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ଠାରୁ ଯେ ଶକ୍ତି ନିଷ୍ପନ୍ନ ହୁଏ, ସେ ଦ୍ୱିଗୁଣ ଫଳଦାୟକ ହୁଏ। ଉଭୟ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ତେଜ ଓ ତପୋବଳ ପ୍ରୟୋଗ ହେଲେ କିଛି ଶେଷ ରହିପାରେ; କିନ୍ତୁ କ୍ଷମାଶୀଳ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ଯେତେବେଳେ ତାହାକୁ ରୋକନ୍ତି, ତା’ପରେ ଯେ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ-ତେଜ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ରହେ—ସେହି ଶେଷ ଯଦି ସତ୍ୟ ତେଜସ୍ବୀ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଚାଲାଯାଏ, ତେବେ ପ୍ରତିହତ ହୋଇ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ନଶିଯାଏ; ଅଣୁମାତ୍ର ମଧ୍ୟ ଶେଷ ରହେନାହିଁ।”

Word by Word

• भूयः: again; further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्

• स्यात्: would be; may be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (√अस्)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• उभयम्: both (things); the twofold
• उभयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: उभय
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• दत्तम्: given; bestowed
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (√दा) → दत्त
• Form: past passive participle, neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• ब्राह्मणात्: from a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• यत्: which; that which
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• अकोपनात्: from (his) non-anger; because of being unwrathful
• अकोपनात्: Hetu (cause)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकोपन
• Form: masculine/neuter, ablative, singular

• कुर्यात्: should do; would make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (√कृ)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• उभयतः: from both sides; in both ways
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः

• शेषम्: a remainder; residue
• शेषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• दत्तशेषम्: the remainder of what was given
• दत्तशेषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्त-शेष
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

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

• शेषयेत्: should leave remaining; should spare
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिष्/शेष् (√शिष्) (causative sense)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (brāhmaṇa)
• Kshatriya (kṣatriya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Anger-driven power is self-defeating: a Brahmin’s calm forbearance (akrodha, kṣānti) neutralizes hostile tejas/tapas, and any residual aggressive force, when turned against true spiritual brilliance, rebounds and is completely destroyed. The verse elevates self-control over retaliatory fury.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is instructing on the dynamics of spiritual and moral power between social orders: the Kshatriya’s aggressive ‘fire’ (tejas/tapas used as force) is checked by a patient Brahmin; if the Kshatriya then tries to use what remains against a truly radiant Brahmin, that force is repelled and extinguished entirely.