Shloka 48
Devanagari script
सायं प्रातश्न वृद्धानां शृणुयात् पुष्कला गिर: । श्रुतमाप्रोति हि नर: सततं वृद्धसेवया
Transliteration
sāyaṃ prātaś ca vṛddhānāṃ śṛṇuyāt puṣkalā giraḥ | śrutam āpnoti hi naraḥ satataṃ vṛddha-sevayā ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“傍晚与黎明之时，当悉心聆听长者所说丰厚的训诲。因为恒常侍奉老人，人便真正得其所闻——经论之学与笃定之悟。”
Word by Word
सायम्in the evening
सायम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसायम्
प्रातःin the morning
प्रातः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रातः
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
वृद्धानाम्of the elders
वृद्धानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्ध
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
शृणुयात्should listen
शृणुयात्:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
पुष्कलाःabundant, full
पुष्कलाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootपुष्कल
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
गिरःwords, utterances
गिरः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगिर्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
श्रुतम्learning (what is heard), sacred knowledge
श्रुतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आप्नोतिattains
आप्नोति:
TypeVerb
Rootआप्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
नरःa man, person
नरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सततम्always, continually
सततम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसततम्
वृद्धसेवयाby service to elders
वृद्धसेवया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्धसेवा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaE
elders (vṛddhāḥ)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
Regularly listen to the counsel of elders—especially at the disciplined times of dawn and dusk—and serve them consistently; such vṛddha-sevā becomes a means to truly acquire and internalize śruta (scriptural and traditional learning).
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on right conduct (ācāra), emphasizing reverence for elders and the practical method of learning through attentive listening and continual service.