Shloka 12
Devanagari script
दानेन भोगी भवति मेधावी वृद्धसेवया । अहिंसया च दीर्घायुरिति प्राहुमनीषिण:
Transliteration
dānena bhogī bhavati medhāvī vṛddhasevayā | ahiṃsayā ca dīrghāyur iti prāhur manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“智者宣说：以布施，人得享乐之资；以侍奉长者，人得真慧；以行不害（阿希姆萨），人得长寿。”
Word by Word
दानेनby/through giving (charity)
दानेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदान
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
भोगीan enjoyer; one who has enjoyments
भोगी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभोगिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भवतिbecomes
भवति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
मेधावीintelligent; wise
मेधावी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमेधाविन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वृद्धसेवयाby service to elders
वृद्धसेवया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवृद्धसेवा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
अहिंसयाby non-violence
अहिंसया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअहिंसा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
दीर्घायुःlong-lived
दीर्घायुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदीर्घायु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
प्राहुःthey said; they declare
प्राहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र+अह्
FormPerfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
मनीषिणःthe sages; the wise
मनीषिणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनीषिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaM
manīṣiṇaḥ (the wise/sages)V
vṛddhāḥ (elders, implied)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
The verse links three ethical disciplines with their fruits: charity brings material well-being and enjoyments, serving elders cultivates intelligence and good judgment, and non-violence supports longevity. It presents dharma as practically beneficial as well as morally right.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he cites the consensus of the wise (manīṣiṇaḥ) to summarize how key virtues—dāna, vṛddha-sevā, and ahiṃsā—shape a person’s life and character.