Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 55

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

विघसाशिना सदा भाव्यं सत्पथालम्बिना तथा | बाद्दां हि मार्गमाक्रम्य वर्तितव्यं बुभूषता

Transliteration

vighasāśinā sadā bhāvyaṃ satpathālambinā tathā | bāddhāṃ hi mārgam ākramya vartitavyaṃ bubhūṣatā ||

Translation

Wika ni Mahādeva: “Ang naghahangad ng sariling kapakanan ay dapat laging mamuhay bilang vighasāśin—kumain lamang matapos munang pakainin ang mga panauhin at ang mga umaasa sa kanya—at umalalay din sa landas ng mabubuti. Pagkatapak sa itinakdang (Vedic) daan, dapat siyang mamuhay nang may disiplina at marangal na asal.”

Word by Word

• विघसाशिना: as one who eats after feeding others (vighasa-eater)
• विघसाशिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विघसाशिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• भाव्यम्: should be / must be (it is to be done)
• भाव्यम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/यत् sense), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Passive (obligative)

• सत्पथालम्बिना: by one who relies on the path of the good
• सत्पथालम्बिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्पथालम्बिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• बद्ध्वा: having taken up / having adopted
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Active

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• मार्गम्: path
• मार्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आक्रम्य: having entered upon / having followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-क्रम्
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्), Active

• वर्तितव्यम्: should conduct oneself / must behave
• वर्तितव्यम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Passive (obligative)

• बुभूषता: by one who wishes to thrive / to live well
• बुभूषता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुभूषु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Maheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• satpatha (path of the good)
• mārga (Vedic/ordained path)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a discipline of ethical living: one should follow the virtuous path and practice self-restraint by eating only after fulfilling duties of hospitality and care—feeding guests and dependents first—thus aligning personal welfare with social responsibility and Vedic dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Śrī Maheśvara speaks as a moral authority, prescribing proper conduct for one seeking well-being: adherence to the satpatha (way of the good) and the ordained path of right behavior, exemplified through the practice of vighasāśin (eating after serving others).