Shloka 27

अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिने पूछा-पितामह! मनुष्य किस समय धर्मका आचरण करे? कब अर्थोपार्जनमें लगे तथा किस समय सुखभोगमें प्रवृत्त हो? यह मुझे बताइये ।।

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: kalyam arthaṃ niṣeveta tato dharmam anantaram | paścāt kāmaṃ niṣeveta na ca gacchet prasaṅgitām ||

Translation

Bhīṣma đáp: “Tâu Đại vương, trước hết hãy chuyên tâm vào việc tạo lập của cải đúng thời; kế đó, không chậm trễ, hãy thực hành dharma; rồi sau mới có thể hưởng kāma (lạc thú). Nhưng chớ để mình sa vào sự quyến luyến và đắm chìm cuồng si trong lạc thú.”

Word by Word

• काले: at the (proper) time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अर्थम्: wealth; material gain
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निषेवेत: should pursue/practise
• निषेवेत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-सेव्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• धर्मम्: dharma; righteous duty
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

• कामम्: pleasure; desire
• कामम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निषेवेत: should pursue/indulge in
• निषेवेत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-सेव्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

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

• गच्छेत्: should go; should fall into
• गच्छेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रसङ्गिताम्: attachment; excessive involvement
• प्रसङ्गिताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसङ्गिता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches a disciplined sequencing of human aims: secure one’s livelihood (artha) in a timely way, then practice dharma, and only then enjoy pleasures (kama), while avoiding addiction or over-attachment to pleasure.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anushasana Parva, Yudhishthira asks Bhishma about proper timing for dharma, wealth-seeking, and enjoyment. Bhishma responds with a practical ethical schedule and a warning against becoming entangled in sensual indulgence.