Shloka 26

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

प्रदक्षिणं च कुर्वीत परिज्ञातान्‌ वनस्पतीन्‌

Transliteration

pradakṣiṇaṃ ca kurvīta parijñātān vanaspatīn

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—جو درخت خوب پہچانے اور سمجھے جاتے ہوں، اُن کی بھی عقیدت کے ساتھ طواف (پردکشنا) کرنا چاہیے؛ معلوم و معروف نباتات کو بھی احترام اور ہوشیاری کے لائق سمجھنا چاہیے۔

Word by Word

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation (keeping the right side towards)
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• कुर्वीत: should do / should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Vidhi-linga (Optative), injunctive/optative sense (should do), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• परिज्ञातान्: well-known / recognized
• परिज्ञातान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-ज्ञा (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वनस्पतीन्: trees / lords of the forest
• वनस्पतीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• vanaspati (trees/forest plants)
• pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharmic conduct includes reverence toward the natural world: one should honor recognized trees/plants through respectful gestures like pradakṣiṇā, fostering humility and non-harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on right conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he prescribes a specific practice—circumambulating well-known trees—presenting it as part of ethical and ritual discipline.