Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 45
Devanagari script
वृद्धान् नाभिभवेज्जातु न चैतान् प्रेषयेदिति । नासीन: स्यात् स्थितेष्वेवमायुरस्य न रिष्यते
Transliteration
vṛddhān nābhibhavej jātu na caitān preṣayed iti | nāsīnaḥ syāt sthiteṣv evam āyur asya na riṣyate ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“切莫在任何时候侮辱或压制长者，也不可差遣他们去办跑腿之事。长者站立之时，自己不可仍然端坐。如此行持之人，其寿命不致减损。”
Word by Word
वृद्धान्the elders
वृद्धान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्ध
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अभिभवेत्should disrespect/overpower
अभिभवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-भू
FormVidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
जातुever, at any time
जातु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootजातु
नnor/not
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
एतान्these (persons)
एतान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
प्रेषयेत्should send/dispatch
प्रेषयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-इष्
FormVidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
आसीनःseated
आसीनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआसीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्यात्should be
स्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormVidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
स्थितेषुwhen (they are) standing / among those standing
स्थितेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootस्थित
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
एवम्thus, in this manner
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
आयुःlifespan
आयुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआयुस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अस्यof him
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
रिष्यतेis harmed/diminished
रिष्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootरिष्
FormLat, Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaV
vṛddhāḥ (elders)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
Maintain reverence and proper etiquette toward elders: do not demean them, do not treat them as subordinates to be sent on errands, and show physical respect by not remaining seated when they stand; such conduct is praised as protective of one’s well-being and longevity.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues giving Yudhiṣṭhira practical rules of righteous conduct (ācāra). Here he specifies social and bodily etiquette toward elders as part of dharma.