Previous Verse
Next Verse

Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 3

Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)

यथा नरेण कर्ताव्यं धर्ममार्गनिवर्तिना । एतत्‌ सर्व महाबाहो भवान्‌ व्याख्यातुमरहति,महाबाहो! धर्ममार्गका अनुसरण करनेवाले मनुष्यका इस विषयमें जैसा कर्तव्य हो, इस सबकी आप स्पष्टरूपसे व्याख्या करें

yathā nareṇa kartavyaṃ dharmamārganivartinā | etat sarvaṃ mahābāho bhavān vyākhyātum arhati ||

尤提士提罗说道:“噢,臂力无双者(摩诃婆呼),请将这一切清楚说明——遵循达摩之道的人应当如何行事,又当如何理解并践行其本分。”

यथाas, in the manner that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
नरेणby a man
नरेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
कर्तव्यम्to be done; duty
कर्तव्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootकर्तव्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
धर्ममार्गनिवर्तिनाby one who follows the path of dharma
धर्ममार्गनिवर्तिना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्ममार्गनिवर्तिन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
एतत्this
एतत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सर्वम्all (of it)
सर्वम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
महाबाहोO mighty-armed one
महाबाहो:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाबाहु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
भवान्you
भवान्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootभवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
व्याख्यातुम्to explain
व्याख्यातुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootव्याख्या + तुमुन् (व्याख्यातुम्)
FormInfinitive
अर्हतिis able/fit; deserves
अर्हति:
TypeVerb
Rootअर्ह्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular
महाबाहोO mighty-armed one
महाबाहो:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाबाहु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
B
Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

The verse frames dharma as practical duty (kartavya) and requests an authoritative exposition: a person committed to the dharma-path must know what actions are obligatory and why.

In Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira, seeking ethical clarity after the war, addresses Bhīṣma as the elder authority and asks him to explain the proper conduct for one who follows dharma.