Shloka 77

आचारप्रशंसा

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

Devanagari script

त्रीन्‌ कृशान्‌ नावजानीयाद्‌ दीर्घमायुर्जिजीविषु: । ब्राह्मण क्षत्रियं सर्प सर्वे ह्याशीविषास्त्रय:

Transliteration

trīn kṛśān nāvajānīyād dīrgham āyur jijīviṣuḥ | brāhmaṇa kṣatriyaṃ sarpa sarve hy āśīviṣās trayaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Người mong sống lâu chớ bao giờ khinh suất coi thường ba kẻ “yếu” này: một bà-la-môn, một kṣatriya, và một con rắn. Bởi cả ba, tuy có vẻ yếu ớt, kỳ thực đều như rắn độc—bị kích động thì phản kích nhanh và hiểm.

Word by Word

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कृशान्: weak, emaciated
• कृशान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• अवजानीयात्: should despise/should disregard
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ज्ञा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दीर्घम्: long
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आयुः: life, lifespan
• आयुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जिजीविषुः: desiring to live
• जिजीविषुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिजीविषु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षत्रियम्: a Kshatriya
• क्षत्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्पम्: a snake
• सर्पम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• आशीविषाः: venomous snakes
• आशीविषाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीविष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmana
• Kshatriya
• Serpent (snake)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not underestimate or insult those who may appear weak; some persons or beings possess latent power to harm when provoked. Respect and caution are presented as practical dharma for one who values longevity and well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he offers a proverbial warning: a brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya, and a serpent should not be slighted even if they seem powerless, because each can become dangerously retaliatory—like a venomous snake.