Shloka 34

Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa

Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows

Devanagari script

असंशयं विनीतात्मा स वै स्वर्गे महीयते । ब्रह्मचर्यस्य च गुणं शृणु त्वं वसुधाधिप

Transliteration

asaṁśayaṁ vinītātmā sa vai svarge mahīyate | brahmacaryasya ca guṇaṁ śṛṇu tvaṁ vasudhādhipa ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Không nghi ngờ gì, người điều phục được tâm và trở nên khiêm cung sẽ được tôn vinh nơi cõi trời. Hỡi chúa tể của đất đai, nay hãy nghe ta nói về các đức hạnh của brahmacarya (phạm hạnh, tiết chế thanh tịnh).”

Word by Word

• {'asaṁśayam': 'without doubt

• certainly', 'vinīta-ātmā': 'one whose inner self (mind) is trained, disciplined, and humble', 'saḥ': 'he

• that person', 'vai': 'indeed

• emphatic particle', 'svarge': 'in heaven

• in the celestial world', 'mahīyate': 'is honored

• is held in high esteem', 'brahmacaryasya': 'of brahmacarya

• of celibate discipline / chaste conduct / student-like self-restraint', 'ca': 'and', 'guṇam': 'virtue

• beneficial quality', 'śṛṇu': 'hear

• listen', 'tvam': 'you', 'vasudhā-adhipa': 'lord of the earth

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• Yudhiṣṭhira (addressed as Vasudhādhipa)
• Svarga (heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Mental discipline expressed as humility (vinaya) is praised as a source of spiritual merit, leading to honor in heaven; Bhishma then frames brahmacarya as a key virtue whose benefits deserve careful hearing.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he transitions into a focused discourse on brahmacarya, first affirming that a mind brought under control and made humble is highly rewarded.