Shloka 25

प्रतिग्रहभेदः — The Distinction between Giving and Accepting

Vṛṣādarbhī–Saptarṣi Dialogue

Devanagari script

स्तोतव्या चेह पृथिवी निवापस्येह धारिणी । वैष्णवी काश्यपी चेति तथैवेहाक्षयेति च

Transliteration

stotavyā ceha pṛthivī nivāpasyeha dhāriṇī | vaiṣṇavī kāśyapī ceti tathaivehākṣayeti ca

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—ఇక్కడ భూమిని స్తుతించవలెను; ఆమె విత్తనార్పణాన్ని మోసి నాటినదాన్ని నిలుపుతుంది. ఆమె వైష్ణవీ, కాశ్యపీ అని కూడా పిలువబడుతుంది; అలాగే ఇక్కడ ‘అక్షయా’—అక్షయదాయిని—అని కూడా ప్రసిద్ధి.

Word by Word

• स्तोतव्या: to be praised
• स्तोतव्या: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Gerundive (तव्यत्)

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

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• पृथिवी: the Earth
• पृथिवी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• निवापस्य: of (the) offering/oblation (nīvāpa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• धारिणी: the bearer/supporter
• धारिणी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वैष्णवी: Vaiṣṇavī (belonging to Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• काश्यपी: Kāśyapī (daughter/descendant of Kaśyapa)
• काश्यपी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• तथा: so; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• अक्षया: imperishable; inexhaustible
• अक्षया: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pṛthivī (Earth)
• Viṣṇu
• Kaśyapa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches reverence for the Earth as a sacred sustainer: she bears the act of sowing and supports life’s productivity. By invoking her epithets (Vaiṣṇavī, Kāśyapī, Akṣayā), Bhīṣma frames ethical gratitude and responsibility toward the ground that nourishes all beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and proper conduct. Here he introduces a praise of the Earth, listing her functional role (supporting sowing and growth) and her traditional divine-genealogical names, as part of a broader didactic discourse.