Shloka 14

Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)

Devanagari script

धनं लभेत दानेन मौनेनाज्ञां विशाम्पते । उपभोगांश्व तपसा ब्रद्मचर्येण जीवितम्‌

Transliteration

dhanaṁ labheta dānena maunena ājñāṁ viśāmpate | upabhogāṁś ca tapasā brahmacaryeṇa jīvitam, prajānātha |

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «О владыка народа, богатство обретается дарением; обетом молчания (мауна) обретается сила, благодаря которой другие повинуются приказу; аскезой (тапас) достигаются наслаждения; а соблюдением брахмачарьи сохраняется жизнь — долголетие и жизненная мощь. Так всякая дисциплина, исполняемая согласно дхарме, приносит свой надлежащий плод».

Word by Word

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लभेत: would obtain / may obtain
• लभेत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दानेन: by giving (charity)
• दानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मौनेन: by silence (vow of silence)
• मौनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• आज्ञाम्: authority / command / obedience
• आज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विशाम्: of the people
• विशाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• उपभोगान्: enjoyments
• उपभोगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपभोग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ब्रह्मचर्येण: by celibacy / chastity
• ब्रह्मचर्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• जीवितम्: life / lifespan
• जीवितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजानाथ: O lord of creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजानाथ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the king addressed as Viśāmpati / Prajānātha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Different dharmic disciplines yield distinct results: charity brings wealth (through social merit and reciprocal support), silence cultivates authority and obedience (through restraint and gravitas), austerity leads to legitimate enjoyments (as earned fruits of discipline), and brahmacarya preserves vitality and longevity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the ruler on practical dharma. Here he lists a set of cause-and-effect teachings—linking specific vows and disciplines to their ethical and worldly outcomes—aimed at guiding royal conduct and personal self-governance.