Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 693

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

ऋषयश्च महाभागा: पृच्छन्ति सम पितृंस्ततः । तब मरुदगणोंसहित सम्पूर्ण महाभाग देवता और परम सौभाग्यशाली ऋषियोंने पितरोंसे पूछा--

Transliteration

ṛṣayaś ca mahābhāgāḥ pṛcchanti sama-pitṝṃs tataḥ | tataḥ marud-gaṇaiḥ sahitaḥ sampūrṇaḥ mahābhāga-devatāḥ ca parama-saubhāgyaśālinaḥ ṛṣayaḥ pitṝn apṛcchan ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, các hiền triết đại phúc đã hỏi các Pitṛs (Tổ phụ). Khi ấy, các vị thần rạng rỡ—cùng với đoàn Maruts—và các bậc ṛṣi tối phúc tiến đến gần các Pitṛs mà thưa hỏi, mong nhận lời chỉ giáo có thẩm quyền về đạo hạnh và pháp tắc tổ tiên.

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• महाभागाः: highly fortunate / illustrious
• महाभागाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पृच्छन्ति: ask
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• समम्: together / in common
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम

• पितॄन्: the Pitṛs (manes/ancestors)
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ततः: then / thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Ṛṣayaḥ (sages)
• Pitṛs (ancestral Fathers)
• Maruts (Marudgaṇa)
• Devatāḥ (gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharmic method: even gods and great sages seek clarification from the Pitṛs, acknowledging ancestral authority and the importance of learning right conduct through respectful inquiry.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śakra’s narration, the sages—along with the Maruts and other deities—approach the Pitṛs and question them, setting up a discourse where the Pitṛs will explain principles related to dharma and ancestral obligations.