Shloka 14

Śakra–Śambara Saṃvāda: Brāhmaṇa-sevā, Anasūyā, and Vāg-bala (शक्रशम्बरसंवादः)

Devanagari script

नानाकर्मसु रक्तानां बहुकरमोपजीविनाम्‌ । धर्मज्ञानां सतां तेषां नित्यमेवानुकीर्तयेत्‌

Transliteration

nānākarmasu raktānāṃ bahukarmopajīvinām | dharmajñānāṃ satāṃ teṣāṃ nityam evānukīrtayet ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: Следует всегда воздавать хвалу тем добродетельным брахманам, знающим дхарму, которые заняты различными обязанностями и поддерживают жизнь множеством трудов. Их неизменная приверженность праведному поведению среди разнообразных занятий достойна непрестанного прославления.

Word by Word

• नाना: various, many kinds of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना

• कर्मसु: in actions/works
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• रक्तानाम्: of those attached/engaged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• बहु: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु

• कर्म: works/occupations
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्

• उपजीविनाम्: of those who live by (a livelihood)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजीविन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धर्मज्ञानाम्: of those who know dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• एव: indeed, certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अनुकीर्तयेत्: should praise/celebrate (recount the virtues of)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-कीर्त्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when righteous people—especially dharma-knowing Brahmins—engage in many kinds of work to sustain life, their virtue and adherence to dharma merit continual recognition and praise.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he advises the listener to honor and commend virtuous, dharma-informed Brahmins who are active in varied duties and livelihoods, emphasizing respect for ethical character over the mere variety of occupations.