Shloka 46

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

यत्रासते मतिमन्तो मनस्विनः शक्रो विष्णुर्यत्र सरस्वती च । वसन्ति भूतानि च यत्र नित्य॑ तस्माद्‌ विद्वान्‌ नावमन्येत देहम्‌

Transliteration

yatrāsate matimanto manasvinaḥ śakro viṣṇur yatra sarasvatī ca | vasanti bhūtāni ca yatra nityaṁ tasmād vidvān nāvamanyeta deham ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ଓ ଉଚ୍ଚମନା ଲୋକ ବସନ୍ତି, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଶକ୍ର (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର), ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ଓ ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଛନ୍ତି, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ପ୍ରାଣୀମାନେ ନିତ୍ୟ ବସବାସ କରନ୍ତି—ତେଣୁ ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ଦେହକୁ କେବେ ଅବମାନନା କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• आसते: sit/abide
• आसते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (आसँ उपवेशने)
• Form: present tense, 3rd person, plural; Ātmanepada

• मतिमन्तः: intelligent, wise
• मतिमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• मनस्विनः: high-minded, resolute
• मनस्विनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• शक्रः: Indra
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• सरस्वती: Sarasvati
• सरस्वती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• वसन्ति: dwell, reside
• वसन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (वसँ निवासे)
• Form: present tense, 3rd person, plural; Parasmaipada

• भूतानि: beings, creatures
• भूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• नित्यम्: always, constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य
• Form: indeclinable (adverbial accusative)

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that (reason/place)
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, ablative, singular

• विद्वान्: a learned man
• विद्वान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: indeclinable (negation)

• अवमन्येत: should despise/disrespect
• अवमन्येत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√मन् (मनँ ज्ञाने) / अवमन्य (denom.)
• Form: optative, 3rd person, singular; Ātmanepada

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Śakra (Indra)
• Viṣṇu
• Sarasvatī
• deha (the body)
• bhūtāni (living beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The body should not be scorned; it is the indispensable support for knowledge, speech, and dharmic living—symbolically a dwelling-place of divine powers and of all beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct; here he emphasizes a disciplined, respectful attitude toward the body as the basis for ethical and spiritual life.