Shloka 15
उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः
Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting
Devanagari script
दश चैव पितृन् माता सर्वा वा पृथिवीमपि । गौरवेणाभिभवति नास्ति मातृसमो गुरु:
Transliteration
daśa caiva pitṝn mātā sarvā vā pṛthivīm api | gauraveṇābhibhavati nāsti mātṛ-samo guruḥ ||
Translation
ਮਾਤਾ ਦਸ ਪਿਤਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਹੈ; ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੌਰਵ ਦੇ ਭਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਰੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਮਾਂਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਮਾਤਾ ਦੇ ਸਮਾਨ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਹੀਂ।
Word by Word
दशten
दश:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदशन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
पितॄन्fathers/forefathers
पितॄन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
माताmother
माता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वाentire/all
सर्वा:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पृथिवीम्the earth
पृथिवीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपृथिवी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
गौरवेणby (her) dignity/weightiness
गौरवेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगौरव
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
अभिभवतिovercomes/surpasses
अभिभवति:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-भू
FormPresent, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अस्तिis/exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
मातृ-समःequal to a mother
मातृ-समः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमातृ + सम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गुरुःteacher/guru
गुरुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaM
mother (mātā)F
fathers/forefathers (pitṛ)E
earth (pṛthivī)G
guru (teacher)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the mother holds the highest claim to reverence and gratitude—surpassing even multiple paternal authorities—and is therefore the foremost 'guru' in one’s moral life.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct; here he emphasizes the hierarchy of respect within family and society, placing the mother at the pinnacle.