Shloka 36

Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa

Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows

Devanagari script

बहूव्य:कोट्यस्त्वृषीणां तु ब्रह्मलोके वसन्त्युत । सत्ये रतानां सतत दान्तानामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्‌,ब्रह्मलोकमें ऐसे करोड़ों ऋषि निवास करते हैं, जो इस लोकमें सदा सत्यवादी, जितेन्द्रिय और ऊर्ध्वरेता (नैप्ठिक ब्रह्मचारी) रहे हैं

Transliteration

bahvyaḥ koṭyas tv ṛṣīṇāṁ tu brahmaloke vasanty uta | satye ratānāṁ satataṁ dāntānām ūrdhvaretasām ||

Translation

బ్రహ్మలోకంలో అనేక కోట్లు ఋషులు నివసిస్తున్నారు; వారు ఈ లోకంలో ఎల్లప్పుడూ సత్యనిష్ఠులు, ఇంద్రియజయులు, మరియు ఊర్ధ్వరేతస్సులు (నైష్ఠిక బ్రహ్మచారులు)గా ఉన్నవారు.

Word by Word

बह्वीःmany

कोट्यःcrores (tens of millions)

तुbut/indeed

ऋषीणाम्of sages

ब्रह्मलोकेin Brahmaloka

वसन्तिdwell/live

उतalso/and

सत्येin truth / in truthfulness

रतानाम्of those devoted/engaged

सततम्always/constantly

दान्तानाम्of the self-controlled

ऊर्ध्वरेतसाम्of those with upward-retained semen (strict celibates)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Brahmaloka

Rishis

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?

The verse teaches that unwavering commitment to truth (satya), disciplined restraint of the senses (dama), and firm celibate continence (ūrdhvaretas/naishṭhika brahmacarya) are exalted virtues that lead sages to the highest divine realm, Brahmaloka.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, instructing on dharma in the Anushasana Parva, describes the inhabitants of Brahmaloka: countless sages who, while living in the world, consistently practiced truthfulness, self-control, and strict continence, thereby attaining residence in that supreme realm.