Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15

उपवासविधि-प्रश्नः

Inquiry into the Discipline of Fasting

Devanagari script

दश चैव पितृन्‌ माता सर्वा वा पृथिवीमपि । गौरवेणाभिभवति नास्ति मातृसमो गुरु:

Transliteration

daśa caiva pitṝn mātā sarvā vā pṛthivīm api | gauraveṇābhibhavati nāsti mātṛ-samo guruḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“母亲胜过十位父亲；确然，以其尊严与价值之重，母亲甚至能使整个大地都黯然失色。因此，世间无有可与母亲比肩的师长。此偈将敬母提升为伦理之要义，把感恩与奉侍母亲呈现为至上的达摩（dharma）。”

Word by Word

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पितॄन्: fathers/forefathers
• पितॄन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वा: entire/all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• गौरवेण: by (her) dignity/weightiness
• गौरवेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिभवति: overcomes/surpasses
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भू
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मातृ-समः: equal to a mother
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ + सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुरुः: teacher/guru
• गुरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mother (mātā)
• fathers/forefathers (pitṛ)
• earth (pṛthivī)
• guru (teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the mother holds the highest claim to reverence and gratitude—surpassing even multiple paternal authorities—and is therefore the foremost 'guru' in one’s moral life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct; here he emphasizes the hierarchy of respect within family and society, placing the mother at the pinnacle.