Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अवसन्मदगहे तात ब्राह्मणो हरिपिड्रल: । चीरवासा बिल्वदण्डी दीर्घश्मश्रु: कृशो महान्‌

Transliteration

avasan madgṛhe tāta brāhmaṇo haripiṅgalaḥ | cīravāsā bilvadaṇḍī dīrghaśmaśruḥ kṛśo mahān ||

Translation

风神伐由说道：“孩子啊，久远以前，有一位婆罗门，肤色带着青绿而微呈黄褐，曾住在我的居所。他身披破旧褴褛之衣，手执以毕尔瓦木制成的杖。髭须与长髯垂落；形体虽瘦，却气度森严，令人不敢轻慢。”

Word by Word

• अवसत्: dwelt, lived
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• मत्-गृहे: in my house
• मत्-गृहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + मत् (अस्मद्-सम्बन्ध)
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• तात: O dear (son/father), O beloved
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (सम्बोधन-शब्द)
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हरि-पिङ्गलः: greenish-tawny (in complexion)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• चीर-वासाः: wearing rags
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चीर (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• बिल्व-दण्डी: having a bilva-wood staff
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• दीर्घ-श्मश्रुः: long-bearded / with long moustache and beard
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कृशः: thin, emaciated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• महान्: great; (also) tall
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• brāhmaṇa (unnamed)
• mad-gṛha (Vāyu’s dwelling)
• bilva-daṇḍa (bilva staff)
• cīra (tattered garments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets an ethical frame by depicting an ascetic brāhmaṇa—rag-clad, staff-bearing, austere in appearance—suggesting that spiritual stature and moral authority are not dependent on wealth or outward comfort, but on discipline and character.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu begins a recollection addressed to a ‘child’ (tāta), introducing a brāhmaṇa who once stayed in his dwelling and describing his distinctive ascetic appearance (rags, bilva staff, long beard, lean yet imposing), preparing for a subsequent episode involving this guest.