Shloka 21

Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

यथा ब्रूयान्महाप्राज्ञो यथा ब्रूयान्महाश्रुत: । श्रेयस्कामो यथा ब्रूयादुभयोरेव तत्‌ क्षमम्‌

Transliteration

yathā brūyān mahāprājño yathā brūyān mahāśrutaḥ | śreyaskāmo yathā brūyād ubhayor eva tat kṣamam ||

Translation

جیسی بات ایک نہایت دانا کہہ سکتا ہے، جیسی زبان ایک کثیرالعلم عالم بول سکتا ہے، اور جیسا مشورہ دوسروں کی بھلائی چاہنے والا نیک مرد دے سکتا ہے—آپ نے ویسی ہی بات کہی ہے۔ یہ کلام ہم دونوں کے لیے قبول کرنے اور تھامنے کے لائق ہے۔

Word by Word

• {'yathā': 'as, in the manner that', 'brūyāt / brūyān': 'would speak

• should/ might say (optative sense)', 'mahāprājñaḥ': 'a person of great wisdom/intelligence', 'mahāśrutaḥ': 'one who is greatly learned

• well-versed in sacred and traditional learning', 'śreyas': 'the good

• the higher good', 'śreyaskāmaḥ': 'one who desires the good (especially others’ welfare)', 'ubhayor eva': 'of both indeed

• for both parties', 'tat': 'that (statement/teaching)', 'kṣamam': 'proper, fitting, acceptable

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma affirms that counsel is most authoritative when it combines deep wisdom (prajñā), extensive learning (śruta), and a sincere intention for the welfare (śreyas) of others; such speech is fit to be accepted by all concerned.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma responds to the other speaker’s words by praising them as exemplary—worthy of a wise, learned, and benevolent teacher—and declares them suitable for both parties to adopt.