Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 43
Devanagari script
स्वदेशे परदेशे वाप्यतिथिं नोपवासयेत् । कर्म वै सफल कृत्वा गुरूणां प्रतिपादयेत्
Transliteration
Bhīṣma uvāca | svadeśe paradeśe vāpy atithiṁ nopavāsayet | karma vai saphalaṁ kṛtvā gurūṇāṁ pratipādayet ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：无论在本土还是异乡，都不可让宾客挨饿。凡长者或师长所命之事，当圆满成就，然后回禀于他们。
Word by Word
स्वदेशेin one’s own country
स्वदेशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वदेश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
परदेशेin a foreign country
परदेशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपरदेश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
अतिथिम्a guest
अतिथिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअतिथि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
उपवासयेत्should not make (him) fast / should not leave (him) without food
उपवासयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootउपवासय् (उप + वस्, णिच्)
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
कर्मthe task/work
कर्म:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
सफलम्successful, fruitful
सफलम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसफल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving done/made
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormAbsolutive (Ktva), Active
गुरूणाम्of the teachers/elders
गुरूणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
प्रतिपादयेत्should report/communicate (to them); should present
प्रतिपादयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रतिपादय् (प्रति + पद्, णिच्)
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaA
atithi (guest)G
guru (elders/teachers)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Two duties are emphasized: (1) atithi-dharma—never let a guest go unfed, regardless of whether one is at home or abroad; and (2) guru-dharma—carry out the teacher’s/elder’s assigned work to completion and then respectfully communicate the successful result.
In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous conduct (dharma), he gives concise practical rules for daily life: hospitality toward unexpected guests and disciplined obedience toward elders/teachers by completing entrusted tasks and reporting back.