Shloka 16
Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications
Devanagari script
सुमहान्त्यपि शास्त्राणि धारयन्ति बहुश्रुता:
Transliteration
sumahānty api śāstrāṇi dhārayanti bahuśrutāḥ
Translation
सुमहान्त्यपि शास्त्राणि धारयन्ति बहुश्रुताः।
Word by Word
सुमहान्तिvery great (things)
सुमहान्ति:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसुमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
शास्त्राणिtreatises/scriptures
शास्त्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशास्त्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
धारयन्तिbear/retain/hold
धारयन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootधृ
FormPresent (Lat), Third, Plural
बहुश्रुताःthe learned/much-heard (men)
बहुश्रुताः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबहुश्रुत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
That genuine scholarship is demonstrated by the capacity to retain and internalize even vast śāstric teachings; ‘bahuśruta’ implies disciplined listening, study, and assimilation that supports dharma in thought and conduct.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira in the broader frame) by emphasizing the value of extensive learning—how the truly learned can carry large bodies of teaching in memory and understanding.