Shloka 28
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
Devanagari script
प्रभवन् पृच्छते यो हि सम्मानयति वा पुन: । नूनं जनमदुष्टात्मा पण्डिताख्यां स गच्छति
Transliteration
prabhavan pṛcchate yo hi sammānayati vā punaḥ | nūnaṃ janam aduṣṭātmā paṇḍitākhyāṃ sa gacchati ||
Translation
摩醯湿伐罗说道：“凡是有能力或有声望的人，却仍谦逊发问，或再三敬重他人——此人必非恶性之辈；他将获得学者的名望与地位。”
Word by Word
प्रभवन्a powerful/superior person
प्रभवन्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभवत् (प्र + √भू)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पृच्छतेasks
पृच्छते:
TypeVerb
Root√प्रच्छ्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
सम्मानयतिhonors/respects
सम्मानयति:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + √मान्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पुनःagain/further
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
नूनम्surely
नूनम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम्
जनम्people/persons
जनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अदुष्टात्माone whose mind is not wicked; pure-minded
अदुष्टात्मा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअदुष्टात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पण्डिताख्याम्the designation/title of 'learned' (i.e., the name 'pandita')
पण्डिताख्याम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपण्डिताख्या
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गच्छतिattains/goes to
गच्छति:
TypeVerb
Root√गम्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Ś
Śrī-Maheśvara (Śiva)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
True learning is marked by humility and respect: even the capable person who still inquires and honors others is of pure disposition and gains the recognized status of a paṇḍita (learned person).
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused discourse, Maheśvara states a criterion for genuine wisdom: the virtuous character shown through respectful conduct and willingness to ask questions.