Shloka 23

Jñāna-yoga and Karma-phala: Manu–Bṛhaspati on Akṣara and the Limits of Mantra

Devanagari script

श्मश्रुकर्मणि सम्प्राप्ते क्षुते सनाने5डथ भोजने । व्याधितानां च सर्वेषामायुष्यमभिनन्दनम्‌

Transliteration

śmaśrukarmaṇi samprāpte kṣute snāne ’tha bhojane | vyādhitānāṃ ca sarveṣām āyuṣyam abhinandanam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Sau khi cạo râu (hay sửa soạn râu tóc), sau khi hắt hơi, sau khi tắm gội và sau khi dùng bữa—cũng như đối với mọi người đang mắc bệnh—bổn phận làm tăng thọ mạng là kính cẩn chào hỏi và nói lời thiện lành (đặc biệt đối với các Bà-la-môn). Sự chào kính ấy được ca ngợi là đem lại trường thọ và an lạc.

Word by Word

• श्मश्रुकर्मणि: in the act of shaving / beard-cutting
• श्मश्रुकर्मणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मश्रु-कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सम्प्राप्ते: when (it) has occurred / on the occasion of
• सम्प्राप्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (सम्प्राप्) → सम्प्राप्त
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• क्षुते: on sneezing
• क्षुते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षु (छींकना) → क्षुत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्नाने: after bathing / at bathing
• स्नाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अथ: and then / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• भोजने: at eating / after a meal
• भोजने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• व्याधितानाम्: of the sick / afflicted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• आयुष्यम्: life-promoting / conducive to longevity
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुष्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अभिनन्दनम्: greeting / respectful salutation
• अभिनन्दनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि-नन्द् → अभिनन्दन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brāhmaṇas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cultivating respectful greetings and salutations—particularly toward Brāhmaṇas—at key daily moments (after grooming, sneezing, bathing, and eating) is presented as dharmic conduct that supports health, auspiciousness, and longevity, even for the sick.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on righteous living and proper conduct. Here he lists everyday occasions and prescribes abhinandana (courteous salutations/blessings) as a beneficial observance tied to well-being and long life.