Shloka 25

Devanagari script

दातारो न ग्रहीतारो दयावन्तस्तथैव च । पितृदेवातिथेयाश्र नित्योद्युक्तास्तथैव च,वे देते हैं, लेते नहीं। उनमें स्वभावसे ही दया भरी रहती है। वे देवताओं, पितरों तथा अतिथियोंके सेवक होते हैं और सत्कर्म करनेके लिये सदा उद्यत रहते हैं

Transliteration

dātāro na grahītāro dayāvantas tathaiva ca | pitṛdeva-atitheyāśrā nityodyuktās tathaiva ca ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—వారు దాతలు, గ్రహీతలు కారు; వారి హృదయంలో సహజంగా దయ నివసిస్తుంది. దేవతలు, పితృదేవతలు, అతిథుల సేవలో నిత్యం నిమగ్నులై, సత్కర్మాచరణకు ఎల్లప్పుడూ సిద్ధంగా ఉంటారు.

Word by Word

दातारःgivers

नnot

ग्रहीतारःtakers/receivers

दयावन्तःcompassionate

तथाthus/likewise

एवindeed/just

चand

पितृदेवातिथेयाश्राःthose devoted to (service of) fathers, gods, and guests

नित्यalways

उद्युक्ताःengaged/ready (for action)

तथाlikewise

एवindeed

चand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

pitṛ (ancestors)

deva (gods)

atithi (guest)

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 praises an ethical ideal: the truly virtuous are defined by giving rather than taking, by innate compassion, and by steady commitment to dharmic duties—especially honoring gods, ancestors, and guests.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he characterizes the conduct of exemplary people, describing their generosity, mercy, and constant readiness for righteous action and service.