Shloka 51

भृगु–भरद्वाजसंवादः: वर्णभेदस्य कर्माधारितव्याख्या

Bhrigu–Bharadvaja Dialogue: A Karma-Based Account of Varṇa

Devanagari script

अब मैं सैकड़ों दिन-रातोंतक साधन करके भी क्‍या कभी वह उपाय कर सकता हूँ, जिससे आज सियारकी योनिमें पड़ा हुआ मैं पुनः वह मनुष्ययोनि पा सकूँ ।।

Transliteration

santuṣṭaś cāpramattaś ca yajña-dāna-tapo-ratiḥ | jñeyaṃ jñātvā bhaveyaṃ vai varjyaṃ varjayitā tathā ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు— నేను మళ్లీ మానవజన్మను పొందగలనా—అందులో నేను సంతుష్టుడై, అప్రమత్తుడై యజ్ఞం, దానం, తపస్సులో నిమగ్నుడై ఉంటాను; తెలుసుకోవలసినదాన్ని యథార్థంగా తెలుసుకొని, వర్జ్యమైనదాన్ని వర్జిస్తాను.

Word by Word

• सन्तुष्टः: content, satisfied
• सन्तुष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्तुष्ट (√तुष्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अप्रमत्तः: vigilant, not careless
• अप्रमत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमत्त (√मद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यज्ञ: sacrifice, ritual
• यज्ञ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दान: gift, charity
• दान: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तपो: austerity, penance
• तपो: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रतिः: delight, devotion/attachment
• रतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ज्ञेय: that which is to be known
• ज्ञेय: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (√ज्ञा)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ज्ञाता: knower
• ज्ञाता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञातृ (√ज्ञा)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेयम्: may I become
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• वर्ज्य: that which should be avoided
• वर्ज्य: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज्य (√वृज्/√वर्ज्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वर्जयिता: one who avoids, avoider
• वर्जयिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्जयितृ (√वृज्/√वर्ज्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ideal human life: contentment without complacency (santuṣṭa yet apramatta), active commitment to yajña–dāna–tapas, clear discernment of what is truly worth knowing (jñeya), and disciplined avoidance of what should be abandoned (varjya).

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma voices a longing for a renewed human birth in which he can practice dharma properly—living with steady awareness, performing meritorious disciplines, gaining right knowledge, and renouncing harmful or unworthy pursuits.