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Shloka 17

Karma-Phala Rahasya and the Ethics of Dāna (कर्मफल-रहस्यं दानधर्मश्च)

स्त्रियस्त्रिषवर्णं स्नात्वा वायुं पीत्वा क्रतुं लभेत्‌ । स्वर्ग सत्येन लभते दीक्षया कुलमुत्तमम्‌

striyaḥ triṣavarṇaṁ snātvā vāyuṁ pītvā kratuṁ labhet | svargaṁ satyena labhate dīkṣayā kulam uttamam ||

毗湿摩说道:舍离与女色相关之享乐,依三时而沐浴,并以极严之节制而住,如同“饮风而生”,便可得与祭祀(yajña)同等之功德。以真实(satya)得升天界;以受戒修持(dīkṣā)得上等家族——即高贵的身分与清净的家风传统。

स्त्रियःwomen
स्त्रियः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
त्रिषुin three (times)
त्रिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootत्रि
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural
वर्णम्color/complexion
वर्णम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
स्नात्वाhaving bathed
स्नात्वा:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootस्ना (स्नान)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite
वायुम्air
वायुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवायु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पीत्वाhaving drunk
पीत्वा:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपा (पिबति)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite
क्रतुम्sacrifice (yajña)
क्रतुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्रतु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
लभेत्would obtain / may obtain
लभेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootलभ्
FormVidhi-liṅ (optative), Potential/Optative, 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada
स्वर्गम्heaven
स्वर्गम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर्ग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सत्येनby truth
सत्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसत्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
लभतेobtains
लभते:
TypeVerb
Rootलभ्
FormLaṭ (present), Present, 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada
दीक्षयाby consecration/initiation
दीक्षया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदीक्षा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
कुलम्family/lineage
कुलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
उत्तमम्excellent, best
उत्तमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma

Educational Q&A

Bhishma links inner discipline to spiritual results: severe restraint and purity of conduct can yield the merit of sacrifice; truthfulness leads to heaven; and disciplined consecration (dīkṣā) elevates one’s ‘kula’—understood as noble standing sustained by vows and purified conduct.

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he summarizes a set of ascetic and ethical observances—continence/restraint, thrice-daily bathing, austere living, truthfulness, and dīkṣā—by stating the corresponding fruits they are said to produce.