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

பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—ஞானமுடையவன், உண்மையில் உறுதியானவன், புலனடக்கம் கொண்டவன், எல்லா உயிர்களிடமும் அஹிம்சை கடைப்பிடிப்பவன்; ஆசை-வெறுப்பு அற்றவன், மூன்று தூய குணங்களால் நிறைந்தவன்—அவன் பிரம்மாசனத்தில் அமரத் தகுதியுடையவன். மகனே! இம்மகா ருத்விக்கள் அனைவரும் தத்தம் தகுதிக்கேற்ப மரியாதைக்குரியவர்கள்.

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.