Shloka 11

Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas

Kekaya Exemplum

Devanagari script

अधीयते>थध्यापयन्ति यजन्ते याजयन्ति च । ददति प्रतिगृह्नन्ति षट्सु कर्मस्ववस्थिता:

Transliteration

adhīyate ’thādhyāpayanti yajante yājayanti ca | dadati pratigṛhṇanti ṣaṭsu karmasv avasthitāḥ ||

Translation

В моём царстве брахманы учатся и учат; совершают жертвоприношения и совершают их для других; дают дары и принимают дары. Так они пребывают в шести обязанностях, подобающих их сословию.

Word by Word

• अधीयते: they study
• अधीयते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (अधी)
• Form: Present, Ātmanepada, 3, Plural

• अथ: and/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अध्यापयन्ति: they teach
• अध्यापयन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-आप् (अध्यापयति)
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, 3, Plural

• यजन्ते: they perform sacrifice
• यजन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Present, Ātmanepada, 3, Plural

• याजयन्ति: they cause (others) to sacrifice / officiate
• याजयन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (णिच्: याजयति)
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, 3, Plural

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

• ददति: they give
• ददति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, 3, Plural

• प्रतिगृह्नन्ति: they accept/receive
• प्रतिगृह्नन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (प्रतिगृह्णाति)
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, 3, Plural

• षट्सु: in six
• षट्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्
• Form: All (numeral used adjectivally), Locative, Plural

• कर्मसु: in (the) acts/duties
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• अवस्थिताः: being engaged/standing (in them)
• अवस्थिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव-स्था (अवस्थित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• brāhmaṇāḥ (Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines the classical sixfold Brahminical duties (ṣaṭkarma): study, teaching, performing sacrifice, officiating sacrifice, giving, and accepting gifts—presented as a model of varṇa-based dharma upheld within a well-ordered kingdom.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, instructing on dharma and governance in the Śānti Parva, describes the proper conduct of Brahmins in his kingdom, emphasizing that they remain devoted to their prescribed religious and ethical occupations.