Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 51
Devanagari script
श्मश्रुकर्मणि मड़ल्यं क्षुतानामभिनन्दनम् । व्याधितानां च सर्वेषामायुषामभिनन्दनम्
Transliteration
śmaśrukarmaṇi māṅgalyaṁ kṣutānām abhinandanam | vyādhitānāṁ ca sarveṣām āyuṣām abhinandanam ||
Translation
毗湿摩说：“修整髭须之时，当出吉祥之言。见人喷嚏，当以祝福相赠（如‘愿你长寿’）；凡有病者，亦当以善愿问候，祝其延年益寿。”
Word by Word
श्मश्रु-कर्मणिin the act of shaving/trimming beard and moustache
श्मश्रु-कर्मणि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootश्मश्रु + कर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
माङ्गल्यंauspicious words/benediction
माङ्गल्यं:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमाङ्गल्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
क्षुतानाम्of those who have sneezed / of sneezers
क्षुतानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षुत (ppp of √क्षु/क्षिव् ‘to sneeze’)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अभिनन्दनम्congratulation/greeting (blessing)
अभिनन्दनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअभिनन्दन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
व्याधितानाम्of the sick/afflicted persons
व्याधितानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootव्याधित (ppp of √व्यध्/√व्याध् ‘to afflict, sicken’)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
आयुषाम्of lifespans / of lives (i.e., long life)
आयुषाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootआयुस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
अभिनन्दनम्congratulation/greeting (with good wishes)
अभिनन्दनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअभिनन्दन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches sadācāra: everyday acts should be accompanied by auspicious speech and compassionate benedictions—blessing a sneezer and wishing longevity to the sick—so that one’s conduct supports well-being and social harmony.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he lists customary practices of polite, auspicious speech connected with grooming, sneezing, and illness.