Shloka 23
Devanagari script
एवं यद्यप्यनिष्टेषु वर्तते सर्वकर्मसु । सर्वथा ब्राह्मुणो मान्यो दैवतं विद्धि तत्परम्,इस प्रकार यद्यपि ब्राह्मण सब प्रकारके अनिष्ट कर्मोमें लगा हो तो भी वह सर्वथा माननीय है। उसे परम देवता समझो
Transliteration
evaṁ yady apy aniṣṭeṣu vartate sarvakarmasu | sarvathā brāhmaṇo mānyo daivataṁ viddhi tatparam ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“因此，即便婆罗门从事种种不善之业，也仍应在一切方面加以敬奉。应知他为神明——实为至上所当敬礼者。”
Word by Word
एवम्thus, in this manner
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
यदिif
यदि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदि
अपिeven, although
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
अनिष्टेषुin undesirable (acts/things)
अनिष्टेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअनिष्ट
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
वर्ततेis engaged, behaves, exists
वर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootवृत् (वर्तते)
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
सर्वकर्मसुin all actions
सर्वकर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
सर्वथाin every way, entirely
सर्वथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वथा
ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मान्यःto be honored, worthy of respect
मान्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमान्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दैवतम्a deity, divine being
दैवतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदैवत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विद्धिknow (you), understand
विद्धि:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
FormImperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तत्परम्supreme; devoted to that
तत्परम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतत्पर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaB
Brahmin (brāhmaṇa)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts an uncompromising norm of honoring the Brahmin as a sacred authority, presenting reverence to the Brahmin as a paramount dharmic duty even when the individual’s conduct appears blameworthy.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues giving prescriptive guidance, emphasizing the sanctity and social-religious status of Brahmins as objects of reverence.