Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13
Devanagari script
अभुक्तवत्सु नाश्नन्ति गर्भिणीवृद्धकादिषु । पूर्वल्निषु न दीव्यन्ति दिवा चैव न शेरते
Transliteration
abhuktavatsu nāśnanti garbhiṇī-vṛddhakādiṣu | pūrvāhṇeṣu na dīvyanti divā caiva na śerate ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“只要仍有人未食——如孕妇、老人等——他们便不先食。他们不在上午赌博，也不在白昼酣睡。”
Word by Word
अभुक्तवत्सुwhen (they are) not yet fed
अभुक्तवत्सु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअभुक्तवत्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अश्नन्तिthey eat
अश्नन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअश्
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
गर्भिणीin the case of a pregnant woman
गर्भिणी:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगर्भिणी
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
वृद्धकादिषुamong the aged and others
वृद्धकादिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्धकादि
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
पूर्वाह्णेषुin the forenoons
पूर्वाह्णेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपूर्वाह्ण
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
दीव्यन्तिthey gamble / play (dice)
दीव्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootदिव्
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada
दिवाby day / in daytime
दिवा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदिवा
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
एवindeed / also
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
शेरतेthey lie down / sleep
शेरते:
TypeVerb
Rootशी
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaP
pregnant womenT
the elderlyD
dice/gamblingCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Dharma in daily life is shown through restraint and consideration: one should not satisfy oneself before ensuring the vulnerable (pregnant women, elders, etc.) are fed, and one should avoid habits that weaken character and duty—gambling and daytime sleep.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on righteous conduct. Here he lists practical behavioral norms that characterize disciplined and socially responsible people, especially within household life.