Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 22

Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity

Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

शक्रतुल्यप्रभावाणामिज्यया विक्रमेण ह

Transliteration

śakratulyaprabhāvāṇām ijyayā vikrameṇa ha

Translation

婆伽罗多说道：“确然，由祭祀之敬奉与英雄之威勇，（他们）获得了与释迦罗（Śakra，即因陀罗）等同的力量。”

Word by Word

• शक्रतुल्यप्रभावाणाम्: of those whose power is equal to Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रतुल्यप्रभावाणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र-तुल्य-प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• इज्यया: by worship/sacrifice
• इज्यया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• विक्रमेण: by valor/heroic prowess
• विक्रमेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (निपात)

Speaker

भगीरथ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Śakra (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links legitimate greatness to two dharmic sources: ritual merit (ijyā/yajña) and personal courage or effort (vikrama). Power comparable to Indra’s is portrayed as arising from disciplined religious duty and heroic conduct rather than mere birth or chance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhagīratha is describing certain persons (implied from context) as attaining extraordinary, Indra-like power, emphasizing that this status was achieved through sacrificial worship and through valour.