Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11

Śulka, Kanyā, and Dauhitra-Riktha: Discourse on Bride-Price and Inheritance Rights (शुल्क-कन्या-दौहित्र-रिक्थविचारः)

Devanagari script

सा भरत्रें सर्वमाचष्ट रुचि: सुरुचिरानना । भगिन्या भाषितं सर्वमृषिस्तच्चा भ्यनन्दत

Transliteration

sā bhartrē sarvam ācāṣṭa ruciḥ surucirānanā | bhaginyā bhāṣitaṃ sarvam ṛṣis tac cābhyānandat ||

Translation

ਆਸ਼ਰਮ ਵਾਪਸ ਆ ਕੇ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਮੁਖ ਵਾਲੀ ਰੁਚੀ ਨੇ ਭੈਣ ਦੀ ਕਹੀ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਪਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ; ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਹੋਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਮੰਨ ਲਈ।

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भर्त्रे: to (her) husband/lord
• भर्त्रे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आचष्ट: told, related
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रुचिः: Ruci (name)
• रुचिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरुचिरानना: she whose face is very beautiful
• सुरुचिरानना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरुचिर-आनन
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भगिन्याः: of (her) sister
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• भाषितम्: spoken (words)
• भाषितम्: Karma
• Type: Participle
• Root: भाषित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that (request/matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अभ्यनन्दत्: approved, consented to, accepted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नन्द्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Ruci
• Ruci's husband (a rishi/sage)
• Ruci's sister (bhaginī)
• Ashrama (hermitage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct in domestic and ascetic life: truthful reporting, respect for family bonds, and a wise readiness to grant a proper request when it is conveyed sincerely and through rightful channels.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ruci returns to the hermitage and recounts to her husband everything her sister said; the sage, upon hearing the full account, is pleased and agrees to the request implied by the sister’s message.