Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 126

Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)

Devanagari script

निद्राभिभूतां सततं शयाना- मेवंविधां तां परिवर्जयामि । जो स्त्री निर्दयतापूर्वक पापाचारमें तत्पर रहनेवाली

Transliteration

nidrābhibhūtāṃ satataṃ śayānām evaṃvidhāṃ tāṃ parivarjayāmi |

Translation

毗湿摩说：“那被睡眠所制、终日躺卧不已的女子——此等性情之人——我刻意回避。”

Word by Word

• {'nidrā': 'sleep', 'abhibhūta': 'overpowered, overcome', 'nidrābhibhūtām': 'one who is overcome by sleep (accusative singular feminine)', 'satataṃ': 'always, continually', 'śayānām': 'lying down, reclining (accusative singular feminine, agreeing with the woman described)', 'evaṃvidhām': 'of such a kind, of this sort', 'tām': 'her (accusative singular)', 'parivarjayāmi': 'I avoid, I keep away from'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches discernment in association: one should avoid companionship with those whose habitual indolence and lack of vigilance indicate weak self-control and neglect of proper conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is delivering moral instruction in the Anushasana Parva, listing traits that signal undesirable character and advising the listener to keep distance from such persons; here he mentions a woman continually overcome by sleep and always reclining.