Shloka 253

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

Devanagari script

येन प्रीणात्युपाध्यायं तेन स्याद्‌ ब्रह्म पूजितम्‌ । मनुष्य जिस व्यवहारसे पिताको प्रसन्न करता है

Transliteration

yena prīṇāty upādhyāyaṁ tena syād brahma pūjitam |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：人以何种行持令师长欢喜，即以何种行持礼敬了至上梵（Brahman）。因此，尊奉并使自己的导师满足，并非仅是世俗礼节，而是一种合乎法（dharma）的德行，终将成为最高的灵性敬拜。

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रीणाति: pleases, satisfies
• प्रीणाति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (प्रीणाति)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उपाध्यायम्: the teacher (preceptor)
• उपाध्यायम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाध्याय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• स्यात्: would be, becomes
• स्यात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Potential), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (the Supreme)
• ब्रह्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पूजितम्: worshipped, honored
• पूजितम्: Karma
• Type: Participle
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Past Passive Participle (क्त)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Upādhyāya (teacher)
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Pleasing and honoring one’s teacher through proper conduct is itself a form of worship of the Supreme Brahman; ethical reverence toward the guru is elevated to the highest spiritual act.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he explains how everyday duties—here, conduct toward the upādhyāya—carry sacred significance, equating the teacher’s satisfaction with worship of the highest reality.