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Shloka 12

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

अमृतं ब्राह्मणोच्छिष्टं जनन्या हृदयं कृतम्‌ । तज्जना: पर्युपासन्ते सत्यं सन्‍त: समासते,ब्राह्यणगको भोजन करानेके बाद बचा हुआ अन्न अमृत है। वह माताके स्तन्यकी भाँति हितकर है। उसको जो लोग सेवन करते हैं, वे श्रेष्ठ पुरुष सत्यस्वरूप परबत्रह्म परमात्माको प्राप्त कर लेते हैं

amṛtaṃ brāhmaṇocchiṣṭaṃ jananyā hṛdayaṃ kṛtam | taj janāḥ paryupāsante satyaṃ santaḥ samāsate ||

بھیشم نے کہا: برہمن کے کھانے کے بعد بچا ہوا اناج امرت کے مانند ہے؛ اسے ماں کے دل کی طرح سراسر خیر و شفقت سے بنا ہوا سمجھا گیا ہے۔ جو لوگ ادب و عقیدت کے ساتھ اسے تناول کرتے ہیں وہ نیک لوگ سچ میں ٹھہرتے ہیں اور حقیقتِ سچ—پرَب्रह्म—کو پا لیتے ہیں۔

अमृतम्nectar; ambrosia
अमृतम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअमृत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ब्राह्मण-उच्छिष्टम्the leavings (food-remnant) of a Brahmin
ब्राह्मण-उच्छिष्टम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण + उच्छिष्ट
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
जनन्याःof the mother
जनन्याः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootजननी
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
हृदयम्heart
हृदयम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहृदय
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
कृतम्made; regarded as
कृतम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्that (it)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पर्युपासन्तेworship; attend upon; revere
पर्युपासन्ते:
Kriya
TypeVerb
Rootउप-आस् (परि+उप+आस्)
FormLat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Plural
सत्यम्truth; the True (Brahman)
सत्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसत्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सन्तःgood; virtuous; being (saints)
सन्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
समासतेsit near; abide; attain (by staying with)
समासते:
Kriya
TypeVerb
Rootआस् (सम्+आस्)
FormLat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
B
Brahmin
M
mother (as an ethical exemplar)
U
ucchiṣṭa (leftover food)

Educational Q&A

Reverence toward the virtuous—symbolized by honoring and partaking of a Brahmin’s ucchiṣṭa—is presented as a dharmic act that purifies and leads one toward Satya (the Real/Truth).

In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he praises a specific dharmic practice: treating the remnants of a Brahmin’s meal as sacred and beneficial, likening it to a mother’s nurturing care, and stating its spiritual fruit as abiding in Truth.