Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50

Dāyavibhāga (Inheritance Apportionment) and Household Precedence — Dialogue of Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīṣma

Devanagari script

तत्त्वं जिज्ञासमानानां चक्षुर्भवतु नो भवान्‌ | तानेवं ब्रुवत: सर्वान्‌ सत्यवान्‌ वाक्‍्यमब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

tattvaṃ jijñāsamānānāṃ cakṣur bhavatu no bhavān | tān evaṃ bruvataḥ sarvān satyavān vākyam abravīt |

Translation

“Nais naming malaman ang katotohanan ng bagay na ito ayon sa tunay nitong anyo. Maging gabay na mata ka namin.” Nang sabihin nilang lahat iyon, sumagot si Satyavān sa kanyang mga salita.

Word by Word

• तत्त्वम्: the truth/reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जिज्ञासमानानाम्: of those who are desiring to know
• जिज्ञासमानानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिज्ञासमान (from धातु √ज्ञा with desiderative जिज्ञास-)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• चक्षुः: eye; guide (metaph.)
• चक्षुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• भवतु: let (him) be
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 3rd, Singular

• नः: for us / of us
• नः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• ब्रुवतः: of (those) speaking
• ब्रुवतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रुवत् (from धातु √ब्रू)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सत्यवान्: Satyavān
• सत्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech; statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Satyavān

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical posture of sincere inquiry: seekers of truth should approach a knowledgeable person with humility and request clear guidance, treating the teacher as ‘eyes’ that enable right understanding.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of people expresses a desire to know the matter in its true form and asks for guidance; in response to their collective request, Satyavān begins his reply.