Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13

ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिः — Vyuṣṭi (Merit-Outcome) of Honoring Brāhmaṇas: Kṛṣṇa and Durvāsā

Devanagari script

कृष्णद्वैपायनश्वैव धौम्यश्न जपतां वर: । देवल: काश्यपश्नैव हस्तिकाश्यप एव च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaś caiva dhaumyaś ca japatāṃ varaḥ | devalaḥ kāśyapaś caiva hastikāśyapa eva ca | teṣām atithisatkāram arcanīyaṃ kulocitam | devakītanayaḥ prīto devakalpam akalpayat ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“黑岛生（毗耶娑）、持诵者中最胜的陀乌弥耶、提婆罗、迦叶波与哈斯提迦叶波——对这些圣仙，提婆吉之子心怀欢悦，依其家族礼法设宴迎宾、恭敬供养，并为他们安排如同礼敬诸天一般的尊荣。”

Word by Word

• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Krishna-Dvaipayana (Vyasa)
• कृष्णद्वैपायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णद्वैपायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• धौम्यः: Dhaumya (the sage)
• धौम्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धौम्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• जपताम्: of those who recite/mutter (prayers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जपत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best/excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवलः: Devala (the sage)
• देवलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काश्यपः: Kashyapa (the sage)
• काश्यपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• हस्तिकाश्यपः: Hasti-Kashyapa (the sage)
• हस्तिकाश्यपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिकाश्यप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अतिथिसत्कारम्: hospitality/reception of guests
• अतिथिसत्कारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथिसत्कार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्चनीयम्: worthy of worship/honour
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चनीय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुलोचितम्: befitting the family/tradition
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलोचित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देवकीतनयः: Devaki's son
• देवकीतनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकीतनय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रीतः: pleased
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवकल्पम्: god-like
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवकल्प
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अकल्पयत्: arranged/provided
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• देवकीनन्दनः: Devaki's son
• देवकीनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकीनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीकृष्णः: Sri Krishna
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• Dhaumya
• Devala
• Kāśyapa
• Hasti-Kāśyapa
• Devakī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds atithi-dharma: worthy guests—especially sages—should be received with reverence and generosity appropriate to one’s family tradition (kuladharma). Honoring the virtuous is itself a form of righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma lists eminent ṛṣis and states that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, pleased, arranged their reception and worship with god-like honors, giving them hospitality befitting his noble lineage.