Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 34
Devanagari script
धर्मराजो हि शुद्धात्मा निदेशे स्थास्यते तव । आनृशंस्यपरं होनं जानामि गुरुवत्सलम्
Transliteration
dharmarājo hi śuddhātmā nideśe sthāsyate tava | ānṛśaṁsyaparaṁ hīnaṁ jānāmi guruvatsalam ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“法王由提施提罗内心清净，必将遵从你的命令。我深知他以慈悲为至上，远离残酷，并且对长者与师长怀有深厚的敬爱与奉事之心。”
Word by Word
धर्मराजःDharmaraja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
धर्मराजः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मराज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
शुद्धात्माpure-souled
शुद्धात्मा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशुद्धात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निदेशेin (your) command/under instruction
निदेशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनिदेश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
स्थास्यतेwill stand/remain
स्थास्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada
तवof you/your
तव:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
आनृशंस्यपरम्having compassion as the highest (quality)
आनृशंस्यपरम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootआनृशंस्यपर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
एनम्him/this one
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जानामिI know
जानामि:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormPresent (Laṭ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
गुरुवत्सलम्devoted/affectionate toward elders/teachers
गुरुवत्सलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootगुरुवत्सल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaD
Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)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
Moral authority in leadership rests on inner purity, compassion, and reverence for teachers and elders; such a person naturally abides by rightful instruction rather than acting from harshness or ego.
Bhīṣma is describing Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) to reassure the listener about his dependable nature: he is pure-hearted, will follow guidance, is fundamentally compassionate, and remains devoted to gurus and elders.