Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 27

Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda

Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity

Devanagari script

एष श्राद्धविधि: प्रोक्तो यथा धर्मो न लुप्यते । पितरस्तस्य तुष्यन्ति प्रहष्टटनस: सदा

Transliteration

eṣa śrāddhavidhiḥ prokto yathā dharmo na lupyate | pitaras tasya tuṣyanti praharṣaṭanasāḥ sadā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“此即所宣说之施罗陀（śrāddha）仪轨，使正法（dharma）不致减损或失落。祖灵（Pitṛs）常常悦纳行此仪者，心怀欢喜。”

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्राद्धविधिः: the rite/procedure of śrāddha
• श्राद्धविधिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धविधि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रोक्तः: has been declared/taught
• प्रोक्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• यथा: so that / in such a way that
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• लुप्यते: is lost/ceases
• Type: Verb
• Root: लुप्
• Form: Present (Lat), Atmanepada (passive-like usage), Third, Singular

• पितरः: the ancestors (manes)
• पितरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तुष्यन्ति: are satisfied/pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष्
• Form: Present (Lat), Parasmaipada, Third, Plural

• प्रहृष्टतनसः: with delighted bodies; exultant
• प्रहृष्टतनसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्टतनु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pitṛs (ancestors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That śrāddha should be performed according to proper injunctions so that dharma remains intact; when done rightly, it brings lasting satisfaction to the Pitṛs and upholds moral-religious order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing on dharma, concludes or summarizes the śrāddha procedure, emphasizing its correct performance and its intended result: the continual contentment of the ancestors.