Shloka 20

Devanagari script

पितामह:ः पुलस्त्यश्न वसिष्ठ: पुलहस्तथा

Transliteration

pitāmahaḥ pulastyaś ca vasiṣṭhaḥ pulahas tathā

Translation

पितामहः पुलस्त्यश्च वसिष्ठः पुलहस्तथा॥

Word by Word

• पितामहः: the grandsire (Bhīṣma)
• पितामहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुलस्त्यः: Pulastya (sage)
• पुलस्त्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha (sage)
• वसिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुलहः: Pulaha (sage)
• पुलहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Pulastya
• Vasiṣṭha
• Pulaha
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma reinforces dharmic instruction by citing venerable ṛṣis; the implied teaching is that ethical norms gain strength when aligned with the testimony and example of authoritative sages and ancient tradition.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, Bhīṣma is enumerating revered figures—Brahmā (as Pitāmaha) and major sages like Pulastya, Vasiṣṭha, and Pulaha—likely as witnesses, exemplars, or sources for the dharma being taught.