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Shloka 114

ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana

River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor

शद्राश्न ब्राह्मणीं भार्यामुपयास्यन्ति निर्भया: । वियोनिषु विमोक्ष्यन्ति बीजानि पुरुषा यदा

śūdrāś ca brāhmaṇīṁ bhāryām upayāsyanti nirbhayāḥ | viyoniṣu vimokṣyanti bījāni puruṣā yadā ||

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—శూద్రవర్ణస్థులైన పురుషులు భయమూ నియమమూ విడిచి బ్రాహ్మణీని భార్యగా ఆశ్రయించునప్పుడు, వారు అనుచిత యోనులలో తమ బీజాన్ని విడిచెదరు. ఇది ధర్మమర్యాదల భంగమునకు సూచకము.

शूद्राःShudras
शूद्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ब्राह्मणीम्a Brahmin woman
ब्राह्मणीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मणी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
भार्याम्as wife
भार्याम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभार्या
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
उपयास्यन्तिwill approach / will take (in marriage)
उपयास्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-या
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural
निर्भयाःfearless
निर्भयाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्भय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वियोनिषुin improper wombs / in wrong unions
वियोनिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवियोनि
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
विमोक्ष्यन्तिwill release / will discharge
विमोक्ष्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-मुच्
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural
बीजानिseeds (semen)
बीजानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबीज
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
पुरुषाःmen
पुरुषाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
यदाwhen
यदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Ś
Śūdra
B
Brāhmaṇa woman

Educational Q&A

The verse frames unrestrained crossing of prescribed marital boundaries as a symptom of adharma, warning that ethical and social norms around marriage and procreation, when disregarded, lead to disorder and confusion of duties.

In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Bhīṣma is describing signs and consequences of societal decline, using the example of men entering unions deemed improper and begetting offspring through ‘unsuitable’ relations.