Shloka 10

Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)

Devanagari script

जो अपने लिये कुछ नहीं चाहता, जिसका अन्तःकरण मूढ़तासे आच्छन्न है, जो थोड़ेमें ही संतोष कर लेते हैं, ऐसे मनुष्योंमें मैं भलीभाँति नित्य निवास नहीं करती हूँ ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

yo ’tmārthaṃ kiñcid api na kāṅkṣate, yasyāntaḥkaraṇaṃ mūḍhatayā āchannam, yaḥ alpenaiva saṃtuṣyati—tādṛśeṣu manuṣyeṣu ahaṃ (śrīḥ) samyak nityaṃ na nivāsāmi ||

svadharmaśīleṣu ca dharmavitsu vṛddhopasevānirate ca dānte |

kṛtātmani kṣāntipare samarthe kṣāntāsu dāntāsu tathā ’balāsu ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—తనకోసం ఏదియు కోరని వాడు, అంతఃకరణము మూఢతచే కప్పబడిన వాడు, స్వల్పములోనే తృప్తిపడే వాడు—అటువంటి జనులలో నేను నిత్యముగా సమ్యకుగా నివసించను। కాని స్వధర్మనిష్ఠులు, ధర్మవేత్తలు, వృద్ధసేవలో రతులు, దాంతులు, కృతాత్ములు, క్షమాపరులు, సమర్థులు—అటువంటి పురుషులలో; అలాగే క్షమాశీలులు, ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహముగల సౌమ్యస్వభావినులైన స్త్రీలలో కూడా నేను నివసిస్తాను।

Word by Word

• स्वधर्मशीलेषु: among those devoted to their own duty
• स्वधर्मशीलेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वधर्मशील
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

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

• धर्मवित्सु: among knowers of dharma
• धर्मवित्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मवित्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• वृद्धोपसेवानिरते: in one engaged in service to elders
• वृद्धोपसेवानिरते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्धोपसेवानिरत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• दान्ते: in the self-controlled (person)
• दान्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कृतात्मनि: in one who has mastered himself
• कृतात्मनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• क्षान्तिपरे: in one devoted to forbearance
• क्षान्तिपरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षान्तिपर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• समर्थे: in the capable/competent (person)
• समर्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• क्षान्तासु: among the forbearing (women/ones)
• क्षान्तासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षान्ता
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• दान्तासु: among the self-controlled (women/ones)
• दान्तासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्ता
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

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

• अबलासु: among women (lit. the not-strong/weak ones; conventional for 'women')
• अबलासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबला
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Shri (Fortune/Prosperity, implied speaker as 'I')
• elders (vṛddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Prosperity (Śrī) is not portrayed as favoring mere lack of desire or minimal contentment when it is rooted in dullness; rather, she abides with those who actively live by svadharma, understand dharma, serve elders, practice self-restraint, and cultivate patience and forgiveness—virtues that make a person ethically steady and socially beneficial.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction (Anushasana Parva), he voices a teaching about where ‘Śrī’—fortune and auspiciousness—chooses to reside. The verse contrasts inert, deluded renunciation with disciplined, dharma-informed conduct, emphasizing that true auspiciousness accompanies virtue, self-mastery, and respectful service.