Shloka 21

Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences

Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

एवं शरीरशौचेन तीर्थशौचेन चान्वित: । शुचि: सिद्धिमवाप्रोति द्विविधं शौचमुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

evaṁ śarīra-śaucena tīrtha-śaucena cānvitaḥ | śuciḥ siddhim avāpnoti dvividhaṁ śaucam uttamam ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: Ang taong may kalinisan ng katawan at kalinisang natatamo sa mga banal na pook (tīrtha) ay nagiging tunay na dalisay at nakakamit ang ganap na katuparang espirituwal. Ang dalawang uri ng kalinisan na ito ang itinuturing na pinakamataas.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• शरीर-शौचेन: by bodily purity/cleansing
• शरीर-शौचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीरशौच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तीर्थ-शौचेन: by purity from pilgrimage/holy places (ritual bathing etc.)
• तीर्थ-शौचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थशौच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• अन्वितः: endowed (with), possessed of
• अन्वितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शुचिः: pure, clean
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सिद्धिम्: success, attainment, perfection
• सिद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नोति: attains, obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• द्विविधम्: twofold, of two kinds
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शौचम्: purity, cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the highest purity is twofold: maintaining bodily cleanliness and cultivating sanctifying purity associated with tīrthas (sacred places/rites). When both are present, one becomes truly pure and attains spiritual success.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he emphasizes the value of śauca (purity), presenting it as a practical ethical discipline that supports spiritual attainment.