Shloka 26

Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

पुरुषस्वभावविहितान् यथावर्णं यथाश्रमम् । वैराग्यरागोपाधिभ्यामाम्नातोभयलक्षणान् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

puruṣa-sva-bhāva-vihitān yathā-varṇaṁ yathāśramam vairāgya-rāgopādhibhyām āmnātobhaya-lakṣaṇān

Translation

应由提施提罗之问，毗湿摩天神先依个人天性与资质，判定种姓与住期（梵行、家住等）的分类；继而又以二分法系统阐明：以离欲（vairāgya）为对治之退隐，与以爱著（rāga）为相应之入世，并说明二者特征。

Synonyms

• पुरुष-स्व-भाव-विहितान्: ordained according to human nature
• पुरुष-स्व-भाव-विहितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष + स्व + भाव + विहित (धा: वि-धा/धा; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मान्) — ‘पुरुषस्य स्वभावेन विहितान्’ (निर्दिष्टान्)

• यथा-वर्णम्: according to (one’s) varṇa
• यथा-वर्णम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘वर्णानुसारम्’; (रूपतः नपुंसक एकवचन-आकार)

• यथा-आश्रमम्: according to (one’s) āśrama
• यथा-आश्रमम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; अर्थः ‘आश्रमअनुसारम्’; (रूपतः नपुंसक एकवचन-आकार)

• वैराग्य-राग-उपाधिभ्याम्: by the conditions of detachment and attachment
• वैराग्य-राग-उपाधिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य + राग + उपाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (उपाधि), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—‘वैराग्योपाधि’ च ‘रागोपाधि’ च

• आम्नात-उभय-लक्षणान्: having both characteristics, as handed down in tradition
• आम्नात-उभय-लक्षणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आम्नात (धा: म्ना/म्ना?; क्त-प्रत्यय; ‘handed down/declared’) + उभय + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (धर्मान्) — ‘आम्नातानि उभयलक्षणानि येषां’/‘उभयलक्षणान् आम्नातान्’ (परम्परया उक्तान्)

Purport

The conception of four castes and four orders of life, as planned by the Lord Himself ( Bg. 4.13 ), is to accelerate transcendental qualities of the individual person so that he may gradually realize his spiritual identity and thus act accordingly to get free from material bondage, or conditional life. In almost all the Purāṇas the subject matter is described in the same spirit, and so also in the Mahābhārata it is more elaborately described by Bhīṣmadeva in the Śānti-parva, beginning from the Sixtieth Chapter.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣmadeva
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about varṇāśrama-dharma?

This verse states that prescribed duties arise from one’s nature and are performed according to varṇa (social order) and āśrama (life stage), as part of the revealed dharma taught by tradition.

Why did Bhīṣmadeva speak about both detachment and worldly engagement?

Because King Yudhiṣṭhira needed guidance for ruling and personal spiritual progress; Bhīṣma therefore outlined both the engaged path (with duties) and the renounced path (with detachment), along with their defining traits.

How can I apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Align your responsibilities with your real capacities and role in life, perform duty conscientiously, and gradually cultivate detachment—so action becomes purifying rather than binding.