Shloka 21

Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद

Devanagari script

शास्त्र ब्राह्मणमन्त्राश्व॒ शास्ता प्राग्वदतां वर: । धर्मपालो5क्षरो देव: सत्यगो नित्यगोडग्रज:

Transliteration

śāstra-brāhmaṇa-mantrāśva śāstā prāg-vadatāṃ varaḥ | dharma-pālo 'kṣaro devaḥ satya-go nitya-go 'grajaḥ ||

Translation

ఆయనే శాస్త్రము, బ్రాహ్మణుడు, మంత్రములు—వాటి అధికారాన్ని నిలుపువాడు; పూర్వవక్తలలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన శాస్తా. ఆయనే ధర్మపాలకుడు, అక్షయ దేవుడు, సత్యమున నడిచేవాడు, నిత్యముగా స్థిరుడైన అగ్రజుడు.

Word by Word

• शास्त्र: scripture; treatise
• शास्त्र: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ब्राह्मण: Brahmin; priest
• ब्राह्मण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मन्त्र: mantra; sacred formula
• मन्त्र: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अश्व: horse
• अश्व: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शास्ता: ruler; instructor; chastiser
• शास्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Agent noun (तृच्/तार् type), 'one who rules/instructs'

• प्राक्: formerly; earlier
• प्राक्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक्

• वदताम्: of speakers; of those who speak
• वदताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present participial base used as genitive plural (वदत्), Plural, Genitive plural of present active participle: 'of those who speak'

• वरः: best; excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मपालः: protector of dharma
• धर्मपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अक्षरः: imperishable; syllable (here: imperishable one)
• अक्षरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवः: god; divine being
• देवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्यगः: one who goes in/abides in truth
• सत्यगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यगः: ever-going; eternal
• नित्यगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्यग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्रजः: elder-born; elder brother; first-born
• अग्रजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Deva (the divine protector/ruler, unnamed in this verse)
• Brāhmaṇa
• Śāstra
• Mantra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate authority—whether of a king or a divine guardian—is grounded in protecting dharma through fidelity to śāstra, honoring Brāhmaṇas and mantras, and unwavering commitment to truth and imperishability of principle.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous governance and ethical order. Here he offers a laudatory description of the ideal protector—one who safeguards dharma and embodies truth—framing the standards by which rule and moral leadership should be measured.