Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 122

ज्येष्ठ-कनिष्ठ-धर्मः — Duties of Elders and Juniors

Anuśāsana-parva 108

Devanagari script

महाकुले प्रसूतां च प्रशस्तां लक्षणैस्तथा

Transliteration

mahākule prasūtāṃ ca praśastāṃ lakṣaṇais tathā

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: “(Dapat piliin) ang isang babaeng isinilang sa dakila at kagalang-galang na angkan, at yaong pinupuri dahil sa kanyang mabubuting palatandaan at mga katangiang mapalad.”

Word by Word

• महाकुले: in a great/noble family
• महाकुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकुल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रसूताम्: born (produced)
• प्रसूताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसूता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्रशस्ताम्: praised, excellent
• प्रशस्ताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशस्ता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• लक्षणैः: by/with (good) marks, characteristics
• लक्षणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma emphasizes prudent, dharma-aligned selection in marriage: a spouse should come from a respected lineage and possess commendable qualities and auspicious characteristics, supporting stability and ethical life in the household.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he lists desirable criteria—lineage and recognized virtues/marks—within guidance on household and marital conduct.