Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13

Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये सर्वभूतानि देवराट्‌ । वसिष्ठो जीवयामास येन यातो$क्षयां गतिम्‌

Transliteration

avarṣati ca parjanye sarvabhūtāni devarāṭ | vasiṣṭho jīvayāmāsa yena yāto 'kṣayāṃ gatim ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：当降雨不至，众生皆受苦。于是大圣仙婆悉吒使他们复得生机；凭此赐生之功，他得至不坏之境（不朽不衰之界）。

Word by Word

• अवर्षति: does not rain
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष्
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• पर्जन्ये: when/with the rain-cloud (i.e., in the matter of rain)
• पर्जन्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्जन्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• देवराट्: O king of gods (O lord among gods)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवराट्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जीवयामास: revived / gave life to
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीवय् (causative of जीव्)
• Form: Lit (Perfect), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• येन: by which / whereby
• येन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• यातः: having gone / gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• अक्षयाम्: imperishable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गतिम्: state/goal/abode
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vasiṣṭha
• Devarāṭ (Indra)
• Parjanya (rain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sustaining and protecting life in times of crisis is a supreme dharmic act; such compassion and beneficence are said to yield enduring, ‘imperishable’ spiritual merit and destiny.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recalls a time of drought when rain did not fall and beings were perishing; the sage Vasiṣṭha intervened and revived them, and that act is linked with their attainment of an imperishable state.