Shloka 16

नक्षत्रेषु श्राद्धफलविधानम् (Śrāddha Outcomes According to Nakṣatras)

Devanagari script

अंशो मित्रश्न साध्याक्ष वासवो वसवो5दश्चिनौ । आपो वायुर्नभश्रन्द्रो नक्षत्राणि ग्रहा रवि:

Transliteration

aṁśo mitraś ca sādhyāś ca vāsavo vasavo daśa ca aśvinau | āpo vāyur nabhaś candro nakṣatrāṇi grahā raviḥ ||

Translation

అంశుడు, మిత్రుడు, సాధ్యులు; వాసవుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) మరియు పది వసువులు; ఇద్దరు అశ్వినీకుమారులు; ఆపః (జలము), వాయువు, నభః (ఆకాశము), చంద్రుడు; నక్షత్రాలు, గ్రహాలు, సూర్యుడు—ఇవన్నీ కూడా అక్కడికి వచ్చాయి.

Word by Word

• अंशः: Aṃśa (a deity named Aṃśa / a portion)
• अंशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मित्रः: Mitra (the deity Mitra)
• मित्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्नः: Śna (a deity-name; reading uncertain)
• श्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• साध्याः: the Sādhyas (a class of gods)
• साध्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अक्षः: Akṣa (a deity-name / 'axle, eye'—here likely a name)
• अक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वासवः: Vāsava (Indra)
• वासवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसवः: the Vasus (a class of gods)
• वसवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आदित्याः: the Ādityas (a class of gods)
• आदित्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अश्विनौ: the Aśvins (twin gods)
• अश्विनौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• वायुः: wind (Vāyu)
• वायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नभः: sky
• नभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• चन्द्रः: the Moon (Candra)
• चन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नक्षत्राणि: constellations / lunar mansions
• नक्षत्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• ग्रहाः: planets
• ग्रहाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रविः: the Sun (Ravi)
• रविः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Aṁśa
• Mitra
• Sādhyas
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Vasus
• Aśvins
• Āpas (Waters)
• Vāyu (Wind)
• Nabhas (Sky/Space)
• Candra (Moon)
• Nakṣatras (Constellations)
• Grahās (Planets)
• Ravi (Sun)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By listing major deities and cosmic forces, the verse frames dharma as grounded in a universal moral cosmos: the same powers that sustain life (sun, moon, waters, wind, stars) also function as guardians and witnesses of right conduct, reinforcing accountability beyond human society.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is enumerating divine beings and cosmic elements—Aṁśa, Mitra, the Sādhyas, Indra, the Vasus, the Aśvins, and celestial/elemental forces—within his Anuśāsana-parvan instruction, as part of a broader discourse that connects ethical duty with the structure of the universe.