Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14
Devanagari script
अथवा ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठमनुभूतानुपालकम् । कर्तारें जीवलोकस्य कस्माज्जानन् विमुहा[से
Transliteration
athavā brāhmaṇaśreṣṭham anubhūtānupālakam | kartāraṁ jīvalokasya kasmāj jānann vimuhyase ||
Translation
又或者——既然你明知婆罗门中最殊胜者、具圣智之人，凭其证悟之见护持众生，且仿佛为有情世界之造作者——你为何仍陷于迷妄？
Word by Word
अथवाor else
अथवा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथवा
ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठम्the best of Brahmins
ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अनुभूतानुपालकम्protector of those who have sought/experienced (his protection)
अनुभूतानुपालकम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुभूत-अनुपालक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
कर्तारम्the creator/maker
कर्तारम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्तृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जीवलोकस्यof the world of living beings
जीवलोकस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootजीवलोक
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
कस्मात्from what cause? why?
कस्मात्:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular
जानन्knowing
जानन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
विमुह्यसेyou are deluded / you become confused
विमुह्यसे:
TypeVerb
Rootमुह्
FormPresent (Lat), Atmanepada, Second, Singular
Speaker
अजुन उवाच
Characters & Entities
A
ArjunaB
Brāhmaṇa (as an ideal/foremost Brāhmaṇa)J
jīvaloka (world of living beings)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Recognizing the sustaining role of realized spiritual wisdom (embodied by the ideal Brāhmaṇa) should remove moha (delusion). Ethical clarity arises when one remembers who upholds life and order and does not let confusion override discernment.
Arjuna speaks, questioning someone’s bewilderment: if one already knows the Brāhmaṇa—through realized knowledge and protective duty—to be a preserver and a formative force in the living world, then becoming confused is inconsistent and blameworthy.