Shloka 14

Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)

Devanagari script

धनं लभेत दानेन मौनेनाज्ञां विशाम्पते । उपभोगांश्व तपसा ब्रद्मचर्येण जीवितम्‌

Transliteration

dhanaṁ labheta dānena maunena ājñāṁ viśāmpate | upabhogāṁś ca tapasā brahmacaryeṇa jīvitam, prajānātha |

Translation

Bhishma nói: “Hỡi bậc chúa của muôn dân, của cải có được nhờ bố thí; nhờ giữ lời thệ nguyện im lặng (mauna) mà có quyền khiến người khác tuân lệnh; nhờ khổ hạnh (tapas) mà đạt các hưởng thụ; và nhờ thực hành brahmacarya mà giữ được sinh mệnh—tuổi thọ và sức sống. Mỗi kỷ luật, khi được hành trì đúng theo dharma, đều cho quả báo tương xứng.”

Word by Word

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लभेत: would obtain / may obtain
• लभेत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दानेन: by giving (charity)
• दानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मौनेन: by silence (vow of silence)
• मौनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• आज्ञाम्: authority / command / obedience
• आज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विशाम्: of the people
• विशाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• उपभोगान्: enjoyments
• उपभोगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपभोग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ब्रह्मचर्येण: by celibacy / chastity
• ब्रह्मचर्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• जीवितम्: life / lifespan
• जीवितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजानाथ: O lord of creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजानाथ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the king addressed as Viśāmpati / Prajānātha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Different dharmic disciplines yield distinct results: charity brings wealth (through social merit and reciprocal support), silence cultivates authority and obedience (through restraint and gravitas), austerity leads to legitimate enjoyments (as earned fruits of discipline), and brahmacarya preserves vitality and longevity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the ruler on practical dharma. Here he lists a set of cause-and-effect teachings—linking specific vows and disciplines to their ethical and worldly outcomes—aimed at guiding royal conduct and personal self-governance.