Shloka 27

Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra

Devanagari script

ज्ञानपूर्वकृतं पापं छादयत्यबहुश्रुत: । नैनं मनुष्या: पश्यन्ति पश्यन्त्येव दिवौकस:

Transliteration

jñānapūrvakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ chādayaty abahuśrutaḥ | nainaṃ manuṣyāḥ paśyanti paśyanty eva divaukasaḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Ang hangal at kulang sa pag-aaral ang siyang nagtatangkang itago ang kasalanang sinadyang gawin. Kahit hindi ito mapansin ng mga tao, tiyak na nakikita ito ng mga nananahan sa langit—ng mga diyos. Itinuturo rito na ang sinadyang kasalanan ay hindi tunay na maikukubli, at ang pananagutang moral ay lampas sa pagtingin ng tao.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानपूर्वकृतम्: done knowingly / premeditated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानपूर्वकृत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पापम्: sin, evil deed
• पापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• छादयति: covers, conceals
• Type: Verb
• Root: छाद्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अबहुश्रुतः: the unlearned man / one of little learning
• अबहुश्रुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबहुश्रुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एनम्: him/it (this)
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मनुष्याः: men, humans
• मनुष्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पश्यन्ति: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पश्यन्ति: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• एव: indeed, certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• दिवौकसः: the dwellers in heaven (gods)
• दिवौकसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवौकस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• manuṣyāḥ (humans)
• divaukasaḥ (gods/celestials)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Deliberate wrongdoing may be concealed from society, but it remains morally real and is seen by higher witnesses (the gods). The verse warns against relying on secrecy and emphasizes accountability beyond human surveillance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira by highlighting that a person of poor discernment tries to hide intentional sin, yet divine beings perceive it even when humans do not.