Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 163

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

Devanagari script

वसामि नित्यं सुबहूदकासु सिंहैर्गजैश्नाकुलितोदकासु । जहाँ हँसोंकी मधुर ध्वनि गूँजती रहती है

Transliteration

vasāmi nityaṃ subahūdakāsu siṃhair gajaiś cākulitodakāsu |

Translation

毗湿摩说：“我常住于水量丰沛的江河之中；当狮与象入水沐浴时，水流被搅动翻涌，我亦在其中。”

Word by Word

• वसामि: I dwell/live
• वसामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, उत्तम, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• सुबहूदकासु: in (rivers) having very much water
• सुबहूदकासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-बहु-उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• सिंहैः: by/with lions
• सिंहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• गजैः: by/with elephants
• गजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• नाकुलित-उदकासु: in (rivers) whose waters are disturbed/agitated
• नाकुलित-उदकासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाकुलित-उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• rivers
• lions
• elephants

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the sanctity and life-sustaining purity of water-rich rivers as worthy abodes, implying that proximity to such natural, vibrant, and spiritually resonant places supports dharmic living and merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, in his discourse, describes continual dwelling in flourishing rivers whose waters are stirred by powerful animals like lions and elephants—part of a broader depiction of sacred or ideal habitats.