Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

लोकथर्मे च धर्मे च विशेषकरणं कृतम्‌ । यथैकत्वं पुनर्यान्ति प्राणिनस्तत्र विस्तर:

Transliteration

lokadharme ca dharme ca viśeṣakaraṇaṃ kṛtam | yathaikatvaṃ punaryānti prāṇinastatra vistaraḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：世间之责与神圣之责之间，已立下分别。其缘由在此：众生各循其分而行，便能再度归于一体；对此，经典多有详述。

Word by Word

• लोकधर्मे: in worldly duty
• लोकधर्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धर्मे: in (special/own) duty; in dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विशेषकरणम्: differentiation; making a distinction
• विशेषकरणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेषकरण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कृतम्: has been made; done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त, Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Passive (past participle)

• यथा: so that; in such a way that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• एकत्वम्: oneness; unity
• एकत्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकत्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again; once more
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• यान्ति: go; attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्राणिनः: living beings
• प्राणिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्र: there; in that matter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• विस्तरः: detailed exposition; elaboration
• विस्तरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• prāṇinaḥ (living beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that the scriptures distinguish between social/customary duties (lokadharma) and sacred/righteous duties (dharma) not to create ultimate separation, but to guide beings through appropriate conduct toward spiritual oneness (ekatva).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he frames why different duties are prescribed: they function as practical paths suited to people’s roles, ultimately aiming at the same spiritual end.