Shloka 8

एष मे सर्वधर्माणां धर्मोडधिकतमो मत: । यद्धवत्या पुण्डरीकाक्षं स्तवैरचेंन्नर: सदा,सम्पूर्ण धर्मोमें मैं इसी धर्मको सबसे बड़ा मानता हूँ कि मनुष्य कमलनयन भगवान्‌ वासुदेवका भक्तिपूर्वक गुण-संकीर्तनरूप स्तुतियोंसे सदा अर्चन करे

eṣa me sarva-dharmāṇāṃ dharmo ’dhikatamo mataḥ | yad bhaktyā puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ stavair arcennaraḥ sadā ||

بھیشم نے کہا—تمام دھرموں میں میرے نزدیک یہی دھرم سب سے برتر ہے کہ انسان بھکتی کے ساتھ پُندریکاکش (کنول نین) بھگوان، واسودیو کی ہمیشہ ستوتیوں کے ذریعے ارچنا کرے۔

एषःthis
एषः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मेof me / my
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
सर्वधर्माणाम्of all dharmas
सर्वधर्माणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वधर्म
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
धर्मःdharma (duty/righteousness)
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अधिकतमःthe greatest / highest
अधिकतमः:
TypeAdjective
Rootअधिकतम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मतःconsidered / held (as)
मतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यत्that (namely, that which)
यत्:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
हवत्याwith oblation / offering
हवत्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहव्या
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
पुण्डरीकाक्षम्the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu)
पुण्डरीकाक्षम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्डरीकाक्ष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
स्तवैःwith hymns/praises
स्तवैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्तव
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अर्चेत्should worship
अर्चेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअर्च्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
नरःa man/person
नरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सदाalways
सदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
P
Puṇḍarīkākṣa (the lotus-eyed Lord)
V
Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu)

Educational Q&A

Bhīṣma declares that the highest dharma is constant devotional worship of Vāsudeva—the lotus-eyed Lord—especially through stuti (hymns) and praise that recounts His qualities; this devotion is presented as the fulfillment and culmination of all dharmic practice.

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma, speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira, summarizes his ethical-religious counsel by elevating bhakti to Vāsudeva as the supreme path, recommending continual worship through praise and remembrance.