Shloka 24

Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa

Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows

Devanagari script

सांख्यशूराश्व॒ बहवो योगशूरास्तथापरे । अरण्ये गृहवासे च त्यागे शूरास्तथापरे,बहुत-से मनुष्य सांख्यशूर, योगशूर, वनवासशूर, गृहवासशूर तथा त्यागशूर हैं

Transliteration

sāṅkhyaśūrāś ca bahavo yogaśūrās tathāpare | araṇye gṛhavāse ca tyāge śūrās tathāpare ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—అనేకులు సాంఖ్యమార్గంలో శూరులు; మరికొందరు యోగంలో శూరులు. కొందరు అరణ్యవాసంలో, కొందరు గృహస్థాశ్రమంలో, మరికొందరు త్యాగంలో (సన్న్యాసంలో) తమ శౌర్యాన్ని చూపుతారు.

Word by Word

सांख्यशूराःheroes in Sāṅkhya (philosophy)

बहवःmany

योगशूराःheroes in Yoga

तथाthus; likewise

अपरेothers

अरण्येin the forest

गृहवासेin household-dwelling (householder life)

चand

त्यागेin renunciation; in giving up

शूराःheroes; valiant ones

तथाlikewise

अपरेothers

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma broadens the idea of ‘śaurya’ (heroism): true valor can be the steadfast pursuit of knowledge (Sāṅkhya), disciplined practice (Yoga), faithful forest-ascetic living, responsible householdership, or sincere renunciation. Dharma is not one uniform lifestyle; excellence and integrity within one’s chosen path are praised.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and right conduct. Here he classifies different kinds of ‘heroes’—those who excel in philosophical discernment, yogic discipline, forest-dwelling austerity, household duties, and renunciation—affirming multiple legitimate spiritual and ethical modes of life.