Shloka 8

Tapas, Tīrtha, and Moral Rehabilitation (Śānti-parva 148)

Devanagari script

अहो देहप्रदानेन दर्शितातिथिपूजना

Transliteration

aho deha-pradānena darśitātithi-pūjanā

Translation

ଆହୋ! ନିଜ ଦେହକୁ ଦାନ କରି ସେ ମହାତ୍ମା କପୋତ ମୋ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଅତିଥି-ସତ୍କାରର ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ ଆଦର୍ଶ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା କରିଦେଲା। ତେଣୁ ଏବେ ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ କେବଳ ଧର୍ମାନୁସାରେ ଆଚରଣ କରିବି; କାରଣ ଧର୍ମ ହିଁ ପରମ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଓ ପରମ ଗତି। ସେ ଧର୍ମାତ୍ମା ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପକ୍ଷୀରେ ଯେପରି ଧର୍ମ ମୁଁ ଦେଖିଲି, ସେହିପରି ଧର୍ମ ମୋତେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଭିଷ୍ଟ।

Word by Word

• अहो: oh! alas!/indeed!
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो

• देह-प्रदानेन: by (the act of) giving the body
• देह-प्रदानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहप्रदान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दर्शित-अतिथि-पूजना: whose hospitality to a guest has been shown/manifested
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्शितातिथिपूजना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kapota (pigeon/dove)
• Atithi (guest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is the highest goal, and true dharma is proven through action—especially through unwavering hospitality and self-sacrifice in protecting and honoring a guest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reflects on the exemplary conduct of a noble pigeon who offers its own body to uphold the duty of honoring a guest. Inspired, Bhīṣma resolves to follow the same dharmic standard, affirming dharma as the supreme refuge.