Shloka 1

स्त्रीस्वभावप्रश्नः — Nārada and Pañcacūḍā on Strī-svabhāva

Anuśāsana-parva 38

Devanagari script

अपन क्ाा बा अकाल पज्चत्रिशो<्ध्याय: ब्रह्माजीके द्वारा ब्राह्म॒णोंकी महत्ताका वर्णन भीष्म उवाच जन्मनैव महाभागो ब्राह्मणो नाम जायते । नमस्य: सर्वभूतानामतिथि: प्रसृताग्रभुक्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | janmanaiva mahābhāgo brāhmaṇo nāma jāyate | namasyaḥ sarvabhūtānām atithiḥ prasṛtāgrabhuk ||

Translation

भीष्म उवाच— जन्मनैव महाभागो ब्राह्मणो नाम जायते । नमस्यः सर्वभूतानामतिथिः प्रसृताग्रभुक् ॥

Word by Word

• {'janmanā eva': 'by birth alone

• from the very moment of birth', 'mahābhāgaḥ': 'highly fortunate

• eminent', 'brāhmaṇaḥ': 'a Brahmin

• member of the priestly/learned class', 'nāma': 'by name

• indeed', 'jāyate': 'is born

• comes into being', 'namasyaḥ': 'worthy of salutation

• to be revered', 'sarvabhūtānām': 'of all beings/creatures', 'atithiḥ': 'guest (especially one who arrives unannounced)

• one to be hosted', 'prasṛta': 'a handful/measure of food offered with an outstretched hand

• portion', 'agra-bhuk': 'first-eater

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a dharmic ideal of honoring Brahmins and upholding atithi-dharma (the duty of hospitality), including giving respectful reception and offering the first portion of food as a sign of reverence and social-ritual priority.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira and begins a discourse praising the status and duties owed to Brahmins, establishing them as venerable guests and recipients of foremost offerings.