Shloka 4

पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणं जातिसम्पन्नं धर्मज्ञ संशितव्रतम्‌

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaṁ jātisampannaṁ dharmajña saṁśitavratam

Translation

நற்குலத்தில் பிறந்த, தர்மத்தை அறிந்த, உறுதியான விரதங்களைப் பின்பற்றும் பிராமணன்—

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जातिसम्पन्नम्: endowed with good birth/lineage
• जातिसम्पन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति-सम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मज्ञम्: knowing dharma; righteous
• धर्मज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-ज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संशितव्रतम्: of well-disciplined/firm vows
• संशितव्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• brāhmaṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ethical qualifications of an ideal brāhmaṇa: reputable upbringing, clear knowledge of dharma, and unwavering commitment to disciplined vows—traits that authorize moral counsel and exemplify righteous living.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is in the midst of instructing on dharma; this line functions as a descriptive setup, identifying a brāhmaṇa characterized by lineage, dharma-knowledge, and firm vows, likely as the subject of a rule, example, or recommended recipient of honor/gifts.