Shloka 9

Tapas, Tīrtha, and Moral Rehabilitation (Śānti-parva 148)

Devanagari script

तस्माद्‌ धर्म चरिष्यामि धर्मो हि परमा गति: । दृष्टो धर्मो हि धर्मिछे यादृशो विहगोत्तमे

Transliteration

tasmād dharma cariṣyāmi dharmo hi paramā gatiḥ | dṛṣṭo dharmo hi dharmiṣṭhe yādṛśo vihagottame ||

Translation

కాబట్టి నేను ధర్మాన్నే ఆచరిస్తాను; ధర్మమే పరమగతి. ఆ ధర్మాత్ముడైన శ్రేష్ఠ పక్షిలో నేను చూచిన ధర్మం ఏదో, అదే ధర్మాన్ని నేనూ అనుసరించదలచుకున్నాను—మహాత్మ కపోతుడు తన శరీరాన్ని దానమిచ్చి నా ముందే అతిథి-సత్కారపు ప్రకాశవంతమైన ఆదర్శాన్ని నిలిపాడు.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चरिष्यामि: I shall practice/observe
• चरिष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• परमा: supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गतिः: goal, refuge, course
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• दृष्टः: seen/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• धर्मिष्ठे: in the most righteous one
• धर्मिष्ठे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यादृशः: such as/what kind of
• Type: Adjective/Pronoun
• Root: यादृश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विहग-उत्तमे: in the best of birds
• विहग-उत्तमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहग + उत्तम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the pigeon (vihagottama)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is presented as the highest goal, and true righteousness is measured by conduct—especially the unwavering protection and honoring of a guest (atithi), even when it demands personal sacrifice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, while instructing on dharma, refers to an exemplary incident involving a ‘best of birds’ (a pigeon) whose conduct embodied perfect righteousness through hospitality and self-offering; inspired by that model, he resolves to follow dharma in the same spirit.