Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13

ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिः — Vyuṣṭi (Merit-Outcome) of Honoring Brāhmaṇas: Kṛṣṇa and Durvāsā

Devanagari script

कृष्णद्वैपायनश्वैव धौम्यश्न जपतां वर: । देवल: काश्यपश्नैव हस्तिकाश्यप एव च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaś caiva dhaumyaś ca japatāṃ varaḥ | devalaḥ kāśyapaś caiva hastikāśyapa eva ca | teṣām atithisatkāram arcanīyaṃ kulocitam | devakītanayaḥ prīto devakalpam akalpayat ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa), Dhaumya—bậc tối thắng trong những người chuyên trì tụng japa—Devala, Kāśyapa và Hasti-Kāśyapa: đối với các hiền triết ấy, con của Devakī, lòng đầy hoan hỷ, đã tiếp đãi và lễ bái theo đúng phẩm nghi của dòng tộc mình, sắp đặt cho họ những vinh kính như dành cho chư thiên.”

Word by Word

• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Krishna-Dvaipayana (Vyasa)
• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णद्वैपायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• धौम्यः: Dhaumya (the sage)
• धौम्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धौम्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• जपताम्: of those who recite/mutter (prayers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जपत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best/excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवलः: Devala (the sage)
• देवलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काश्यपः: Kashyapa (the sage)
• काश्यपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• एव: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• हस्तिकाश्यपः: Hasti-Kashyapa (the sage)
• हस्तिकाश्यपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिकाश्यप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अतिथिसत्कारम्: hospitality/reception of guests
• अतिथिसत्कारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथिसत्कार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्चनीयम्: worthy of worship/honour
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चनीय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुलोचितम्: befitting the family/tradition
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलोचित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देवकीतनयः: Devaki's son
• देवकीतनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकीतनय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रीतः: pleased
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवकल्पम्: god-like
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवकल्प
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अकल्पयत्: arranged/provided
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• देवकीनन्दनः: Devaki's son
• देवकीनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकीनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीकृष्णः: Sri Krishna
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Dhaumya
• Devala
• Kāśyapa
• Hasti-Kāśyapa
• Devakī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds atithi-dharma: worthy guests—especially sages—should be received with reverence and generosity appropriate to one’s family tradition (kuladharma). Honoring the virtuous is itself a form of righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma lists eminent ṛṣis and states that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, pleased, arranged their reception and worship with god-like honors, giving them hospitality befitting his noble lineage.