Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 26

आचारप्रशंसा

Praise of Ācāra as the Basis of Longevity, Fame, and Prosperity

Devanagari script

प्रदक्षिणं च कुर्वीत परिज्ञातान्‌ वनस्पतीन्‌

Transliteration

pradakṣiṇaṃ ca kurvīta parijñātān vanaspatīn

Translation

毗湿摩说：也应当以恭敬之心，对那些众所周知、已被明了的树木行右绕礼（pradakṣiṇā），把这些熟识的草木视为值得尊重、应当留心对待的生命。

Word by Word

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation (keeping the right side towards)
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• कुर्वीत: should do / should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Vidhi-linga (Optative), injunctive/optative sense (should do), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• परिज्ञातान्: well-known / recognized
• परिज्ञातान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-ज्ञा (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वनस्पतीन्: trees / lords of the forest
• वनस्पतीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• vanaspati (trees/forest plants)
• pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharmic conduct includes reverence toward the natural world: one should honor recognized trees/plants through respectful gestures like pradakṣiṇā, fostering humility and non-harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on right conduct (Anuśāsana Parva), he prescribes a specific practice—circumambulating well-known trees—presenting it as part of ethical and ritual discipline.