Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15

Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma

Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor

Devanagari script

यदि वैरिषु भृत्येषु स्वजनव्यवहारयो: । विषयेष्विन्द्रियाणां च आकाशे मा पराक्रम

Transliteration

yadi vairiṣu bhṛtyeṣu svajana-vyavahārayoḥ | viṣayeṣv indriyāṇāṁ ca ākāśe mā parākrama ||

Translation

“若你真有力量，当在应当受试之处显其勇：对敌人，在处置依附者与仆从之事上，在族人行止与原告被告之争讼中，并在制伏感官所贪恋之境上。莫将武力施于居于天空者；此等侵凌既失其所，亦空乏于义。”

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• वै: indeed/for emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• वैरिषु: among enemies / with respect to enemies
• वैरिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• भृत्येषु: among servants/retainers
• भृत्येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• स्वजनव्यवहारयोः: in the dealings of one’s own people (and others’ dealings)
• स्वजनव्यवहारयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वजनव्यवहार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

• विषयेषु: in objects/sense-objects
• विषयेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the senses
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• आकाशे: in the sky/ether
• आकाशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा
• Form: true

• पराक्रम: exert prowess / act valiantly
• Type: Verb
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Lot (imperative), Parasmaipada, Second, Singular

Speaker

श्येन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• श्येन (Śyena)
• आकाश (ākāśa, the sky)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Strength and heroism are meaningful only when directed toward rightful arenas—defending against enemies, acting justly in social/legal dealings, and conquering one’s own senses. Misusing power against inappropriate targets is condemned.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śyena offers counsel that reframes ‘parākrama’ (valor) as ethical discipline: prove power through responsible action in human conflicts and self-mastery, not by futile or wrongful aggression against beings ‘in the sky’ (i.e., remote or improper targets).