Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 266
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
Devanagari script
मही प्रचलिता चासीत् तस्य सत्येन कर्मणा । सारा शुभ्र आकाश सब ओससे मेघोंद्वारा आच्छादित हो गया। उनके सत्यकर्मके प्रभावसे पृथ्वी काँपने लगी
Transliteration
mahī pracalitā cāsīt tasya satyena karmaṇā |
Translation
凭借他以“萨提亚”（satya，真实不欺）充盈的行持之力，大地本身也开始震颤与移动。叙事强调了达摩的核心伦理：当真实被化为坚定不移的行动时，它不仅是个人德行，更是一种足以影响世界秩序的力量。
Word by Word
महीthe earth
मही:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमही
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
प्रचलिताshaken, set in motion
प्रचलिता:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-चल्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
आसीत्was
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तस्यof him/that
तस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
सत्येनby truth
सत्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसत्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
कर्मणाby (his) deed/action
कर्मणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
श्येन उवाच
Characters & Entities
श
श्येन (Śyena, the speaker)प
पृथ्वी/मही (Earth)Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights satya as an active, world-sustaining force: truthfulness expressed through consistent conduct (satya-karma) generates moral potency that can influence even the natural/cosmic order.
Śyena states that because of someone's truthful actions, the earth began to move/tremble—an image used to convey the extraordinary efficacy of truth as a dharmic power.