Shloka 24
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
Devanagari script
अनुक्रोशो हि साधूनां महद्धर्मस्य लक्षणम् | अनुक्रोशश्व साधूनां सदा प्रीति प्रयच्छति
Transliteration
anukrośo hi sādhūnāṁ mahaddharmasya lakṣaṇam | anukrośaś ca sādhūnāṁ sadā prītiṁ prayacchati ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：对于贤德之人而言，慈悲正是大法（Dharma）的明证与标志；而贤者之慈悲，恒常赐予内心的喜悦与安足。
Word by Word
अनुक्रोशःcompassion, pity
अनुक्रोशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअनुक्रोश
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
साधूनाम्of the virtuous/good people
साधूनाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसाधु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
महत्great
महत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
धर्मस्यof dharma
धर्मस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
लक्षणम्mark, characteristic
लक्षणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलक्षण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अनुक्रोशःcompassion
अनुक्रोशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअनुक्रोश
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
साधूनाम्of the virtuous
साधूनाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootसाधु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सदाalways
सदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा
प्रीतिम्joy, satisfaction, affection
प्रीतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रीति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
प्रयच्छतिgives, bestows
प्रयच्छति:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + यम्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that compassion (anukrośa) is a primary hallmark of great Dharma among the virtuous, and that cultivating compassion naturally yields enduring inner joy (prīti).
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira by defining a key sign of true righteousness: the steady presence of compassion in a good person’s conduct.