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Shloka 6

Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra

पज्चाद्रों भोजनं भुज्ज्यात्‌ प्राइमुखो मौनमास्थित: । ननिन्द्यादन्नभक्ष्यांश्न स्वाद्वस्वादु च भक्षयेत्‌,दोनों हाथ, दोनों पैर और मुँह--इन पाँच अंगोंको धोकर- पूर्वाभिमुख हो भोजन करे। भोजनके समय मौन रहे। परोसे हुए अन्नकी निन्दा न करे। वह स्वादिष्ट हो या न हो, प्रेमसे भोजन कर ले

pañcāṅgāni prakṣālya bhojanaṁ bhuñjīta prāṅmukho maunam āsthitaḥ | na nindyād annabhakṣyāṇi svādv-asvādu ca bhakṣayet ||

ครั้นล้างอวัยวะทั้งห้า—มือทั้งสอง เท้าทั้งสอง และปาก—แล้ว พึงรับประทานอาหารโดยหันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออก และรักษาความสงบเงียบขณะกิน อย่าติเตียนอาหารที่จัดถวาย; จะอร่อยหรือไม่อร่อยก็พึงรับด้วยใจอ่อนโยน

पश्चात्afterwards
पश्चात्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपश्चात्
भोजनम्food/meal
भोजनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभोजन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भुञ्ज्यात्should eat
भुञ्ज्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootभुज्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
प्राङ्मुखःfacing east
प्राङ्मुखः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राङ्मुख
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मौनम्silence
मौनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमौन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आस्थितःhaving adopted/observing
आस्थितः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था
Formक्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
निन्द्यात्should criticize/blame
निन्द्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootनिन्द्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अन्नभक्ष्यान्food-items fit to be eaten
अन्नभक्ष्यान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्नभक्ष्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
स्नात्वाhaving washed/bathed
स्नात्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootस्ना
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
स्वादुtasty
स्वादु:
TypeAdjective
Rootस्वादु
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
अस्वादुnot tasty
अस्वादु:
TypeAdjective
Rootअस्वादु
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
and/even
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
भक्षयेत्should eat/consume
भक्षयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभक्ष्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
F
food (anna/bhojana)
S
silence (mauna)
E
east (prāṅ)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches disciplined, respectful conduct at meals: cleanse oneself, eat with mindful restraint (silence), avoid fault-finding toward what is offered, and accept food without attachment to taste.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma gives Yudhishthira practical rules of daily life—here, the ethical and ritual propriety of taking food.