Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी । परिचार्य तथा वेदं कृत्यं कुर्वन्‌ वसेत्‌ सदा,ब्रह्मचारी नित्य निरन्तर मन और इन्द्रियोंको वशमें रखते हुए व्रत एवं दीक्षाके पालनमें तत्पर रहे। वेदोंका स्वाध्याय करते हुए सदा कर्तव्य-कर्मोके पालनपूर्वक गुरु-गृहमें निवास करे

Transliteration

brahmacārī vratī nityaṁ nityaṁ dīkṣāparo vaśī | paricārya tathā vedaṁ kṛtyaṁ kurvan vaset sadā ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «Брахмачарин должен всегда быть хранителем обетов — неизменно устремлённым к дисциплинированным соблюдениям и владеющим собой. Он должен служить как подобает и изучать Веды; и, исполняя обязательные дела, всегда жить в доме учителя».

Word by Word

ब्रह्मचारीa celibate student (brahmacārin)

व्रतीone observing vows

नित्यम्always, constantly

नित्यम्always, continually

दीक्षापरःintent on initiation/observances

वशीself-controlled

परिचार्यhaving served/attended (upon)

तथाthus, likewise

वेदम्the Veda (study/recitation)

कृत्यम्duty, what ought to be done

कुर्वन्doing, performing

वसेत्should dwell/live

सदाalways

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches brahmacārin-dharma: constant self-restraint, faithful observance of vows and disciplined practices, service to the teacher, regular Vedic study, and steady performance of obligatory duties while residing in the guru’s household.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he outlines the proper conduct of a Vedic student (brahmacārin), emphasizing life in the gurukula with service, study, and disciplined duty.