Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 73

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

' नीलषण्डप्रमोक्षेण अमावास्यां तिलोदकै:ः

Transliteration

nīlaṣaṇḍa-pramokṣeṇa amāvāsyāṁ tilodakaiḥ

Translation

Sinasabi ni Śakra (Indra) na sa pagsasagawa ng ritwal ng pagpapalaya sa “nīlaṣaṇḍa” at sa pag-aalay ng tubig na may linga (tilodaka) sa araw ng Amāvāsyā (bagong buwan), nakakamit ang kabutihang panrelihiyon—isang disiplinadong pagtalima na kaugnay ng mga ritwal para sa ninuno at ng tungkuling moral sa mga yumao.

Word by Word

• नीलषण्डप्रमोक्षेण: by/with the release (letting go) of a blue-bull herd (or: by the act called nīlaṣaṇḍa-pramokṣa)
• नीलषण्डप्रमोक्षेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीलषण्डप्रमोक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अमावास्याम्: on the new-moon day
• अमावास्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमावास्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• तिलोदकैः: with sesame-water (water mixed with sesame seeds)
• तिलोदकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलोदक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• शक्र (Indra)
• अमावास्या (new-moon day)
• तिलोदक (sesame-water offering)
• नीलषण्ड (ritual item/oblation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic merit gained through timely, prescribed observances—especially Amāvāsyā offerings of sesame-water—emphasizing responsibility toward ancestors and the ethical value of disciplined ritual duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) is describing a specific religious practice: the ‘release’ (pramokṣa) of a nīlaṣaṇḍa as part of an observance, together with Amāvāsyā sesame-water offerings, presenting these acts as sources of spiritual merit within the broader instruction on dharma.