Shloka 16

Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

श्रेष्ठ आश्रम गार्हस्थ्यमें निवास करनेवाले द्विजोंके लिये महर्षिगण यह कर्तव्य बताते हैं कि वह स्त्री और पुत्रोंका भरण-पोषण तथा वेदशास्त्रोंका स्वाध्याय करे ।।

Transliteration

evaṁ hi yo brāhmaṇo yajñaśīlo gārhasthyam adhyāvasate yathāvat | gṛhasthavṛttiṁ praviśodhya samyak svarge viśuddhaṁ phalam āpnute saḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଗାର୍ହସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଆଶ୍ରମରେ ବସୁଥିବା ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମହର୍ଷିମାନେ ଏହି କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ କରନ୍ତି—ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଓ ପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କର ଭରଣ-ପୋଷଣ କରିବା ଏବଂ ବେଦ-ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରର ନିୟମବଦ୍ଧ ସ୍ୱାଧ୍ୟାୟ କରିବା। ଯେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ସ୍ୱଭାବତଃ ଯଜ୍ଞପରାୟଣ ହୋଇ ବିଧିମତେ ଗୃହସ୍ଥଧର୍ମ ପାଳନ କରେ, ସେ ନିଜ ଜୀବିକା ଓ ଆଚରଣକୁ ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ କରି ସ୍ୱର୍ଗରେ ନିର୍ମଳ ଓ ନିଷ୍କଳୁଷ ଫଳ ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

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

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यज्ञशीलः: habitually performing sacrifices
• यज्ञशीलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञशील
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: the householder state
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अध्यावसते: dwells in, undertakes (lives as)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-आ-√वस्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• यथावत्: properly, as prescribed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत्

• गृहस्थवृत्तिम्: the conduct/means of livelihood of a householder
• गृहस्थवृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रविशोध्य: having thoroughly purified
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वि-√शुध्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral (gerund)

• सम्यक्: completely, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• स्वर्गे: in heaven
• स्वर्गे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विशुद्धम्: pure
• विशुद्धम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आप्नुते: attains, obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• brāhmaṇa
• gṛhastha (householder)
• svarga (heaven)
• yajña (sacrifice)
• Veda
• śāstra
• wife
• children
• mahārṣi (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Householder life is praised as an excellent āśrama when lived according to rule: one should support dependents (wife and children), maintain disciplined study of Veda/śāstra, and keep one’s livelihood and conduct pure; such a life yields a ‘pure fruit’ (viśuddha-phala), described here as heavenly merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. In this passage he explains the sages’ view of gṛhastha-dharma, emphasizing sacrifice-oriented living, responsible maintenance of family, and purification of one’s means of living as the basis for meritorious results.