Shloka 5

ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः

Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas

Devanagari script

धीमान्‌ सत्यधृतिर्दान्तो भूतानामविहिंसक: । अकामद्देषसंयुक्तस्त्रिभि: शुक्लै: समन्वित:

Transliteration

dhīmān satyadhṛtir dānto bhūtānām avihiṁsakaḥ | akāmaddveṣasaṁyuktas tribhiḥ śuklaiḥ samanvitaḥ ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «Тот, кто мудр, твёрд в истине, обуздал чувства, не причиняет вреда всем существам; кто свободен от желания и ненависти и наделён тремя чистыми качествами — знанием шастр, благим поведением и безупречным родом, — тот достоин воссесть на сиденье Брахмана. Дитя моё, все эти великие ритвиджи (ṛtvija) достойны почёта, каждый — по своей заслуге».

Word by Word

• धीमान्: wise, intelligent
• धीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्यधृतिः: one whose resolve is truth (truth-holding)
• सत्यधृतिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यधृति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दान्तः: self-controlled, subdued
• दान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूतानाम्: of beings, of creatures
• भूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अविहिंसकः: non-injuring, harmless
• अविहिंसकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविहिंसक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अकाम: free from desire
• अकाम: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकाम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्वेषसंयुक्तः: associated with hatred (i.e., having hatred)
• द्वेषसंयुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वेषसंयुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शुक्लैः: pure, white (qualities)
• शुक्लैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• समन्वितः: endowed with, possessed of
• समन्वितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्वित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• Brahman (as ‘Brahmaṇaḥ āsanam’—the seat/status of Brahman)
• Bhūtas (living beings/creatures)
• Ṛtvijas (officiating priests; mentioned in the accompanying prose sense)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma defines the ethical and spiritual qualifications of a truly worthy person: wisdom, unwavering commitment to truth, restraint of the senses, non-violence toward all beings, and freedom from desire and hatred—together with ‘three pure’ credentials/qualities—make one fit for the highest spiritual standing and deserving of honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising (to Yudhiṣṭhira) what traits mark genuine excellence and eligibility for the highest seat/status, and he adds that great officiating priests are to be respected appropriately according to their merit and role.