Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 66

Āloka-dāna (Dīpa-dāna), Sumanas–Dhūpa–Dīpa Phala: Manu–Suvarṇa and Śukra–Bali Exempla

Devanagari script

नारदो5पि मयि प्राह गुणानेतान्‌ महाद्युते । त्वमप्येतद्‌ विदित्वेह सर्वमाचर पुत्रक

Transliteration

nārado ’pi mayi prāha guṇān etān mahādyute | tvam apy etad viditvehā sarvam ācara putraka ||

Translation

舒克罗曰：“即便那罗陀也曾向我述说这些功德，噫，威光赫赫者。故而，吾子，当于此明了此教，凡所行事，悉依其法而为。”

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मयि: in/unto me
• मयि: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Locative, Singular

• प्राह: said/told
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गुणान्: merits/benefits
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महाद्युते: O great-splendoured one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाद्युति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• एतत्: this (matter/method)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विदित्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• सर्वम्: everything/all (acts)
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आचर: practice/perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चर्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुत्रक: O dear son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

शुक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śukra (Śukrācārya)
• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That one should learn the recognized merits (guṇas) of a dharmic practice from authoritative tradition and then align one’s entire conduct with that knowledge.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śukra reports that Nārada himself conveyed these merits to him, and Śukra then urges his son to understand the teaching and to act accordingly in all matters.