Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 4
Devanagari script
द्विजेभ्यो गुणमुख्येभ्यो नैगमेभ्यश्व सर्वश: । प्रतिगृह्मयाशिषो मुख्यास्तथा धर्मभूतां वर:
Transliteration
dwijebhyo guṇamukhyebhyo naigamebhyaś ca sarvaśaḥ | pratigṛhṇīyād āśiṣo mukhyās tathā dharmabhūtāṁ varaḥ ||
Translation
又从诸婆罗门（再生族）处广受上等祝福：或以德行为首者，或精通吠陀与圣传者，皆为其赐福。
Word by Word
द्विजेभ्यःto/from the twice-born (Brahmins)
द्विजेभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज
FormMasculine, Dative/Ablative, Plural
गुणमुख्येभ्यःto/from those foremost in virtues
गुणमुख्येभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootगुणमुख्य
FormMasculine, Dative/Ablative, Plural
नैगमेभ्यःto/from Veda-knowers / learned in scripture
नैगमेभ्यः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootनैगम
FormMasculine, Dative/Ablative, Plural
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
सर्वशःin every way; altogether
सर्वशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वशस्
प्रतिगृह्णीयात्should accept/receive
प्रतिगृह्णीयात्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-ग्रह्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
आशिषःblessings
आशिषः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआशिष्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
मुख्याःexcellent; chief
मुख्याः:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमुख्य
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
तथाthus; likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
धर्मभूताम्one who has become/embodies dharma
धर्मभूताम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्मभूत
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
वरःthe best; the excellent one
वरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaY
YudhiṣṭhiraB
Brahmins (dvija)V
Veda-knowers (naigama)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
A ruler’s authority is not merely political; it is ethically grounded. The verse highlights that the best blessings and moral validation come from those who embody virtue and sacred learning, implying that governance should be aligned with dharma and guided by the wise.
After Yudhiṣṭhira’s royal consecration, he secures the kingdom, reinstates ministers and other officials in their posts, and then respectfully receives auspicious blessings from eminent, Veda-learned and virtuous Brahmins.