Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणानां परिभवादसुरा: सलिलेशया: । ब्राह्मणानां प्रसादाच्च देवा: स्वर्गनिवासिन:

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānāṃ paribhavād asurāḥ salileśayāḥ | brāhmaṇānāṃ prasādāc ca devāḥ svarganivāsinaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“因婆罗门受辱，阿修罗被迫居于水中（大海）。又因婆罗门的恩许与垂怜，诸天得以安住天界。”

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• परिभवात्: from/owing to contempt (insult)
• परिभवात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिभव
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• असुराः: the Asuras
• असुराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सलिलेशयाः: dwelling in the waters (ocean-dwellers)
• सलिलेशयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिलेशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रसादात्: from/owing to favor (grace)
• प्रसादात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

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

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वर्गनिवासिनः: dwelling in heaven
• स्वर्गनिवासिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्गनिवासिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brāhmaṇas
• Asuras
• Devas
• Salila (waters/ocean)
• Svarga (heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that honoring the Brāhmaṇas—figures representing Vedic learning, ritual authority, and moral restraint—supports dharma and prosperity, while insulting them leads to ruin. It frames social-ethical conduct as having cosmic consequences: grace elevates (Devas in heaven), contempt degrades (Asuras confined to the waters).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction (Anuśāsana Parva), he explains to Yudhiṣṭhira the power of Brāhmaṇas’ approval or displeasure. As an illustrative claim, he states that the Asuras became ocean-dwellers due to their disrespect toward Brāhmaṇas, whereas the Devas gained heavenly residence through Brāhmaṇas’ favor.