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Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 14

कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve

परिमुष्णन्ति शास्त्राणि शास्त्रदोषानुदर्शिन: । विज्ञानमर्थविद्यानां न सम्यगिति वर्तते

parimuṣṇanti śāstrāṇi śāstradoṣānudarśinaḥ | vijñānam arthavidyānāṃ na samyag iti vartate ||

毗湿摩说道:“那些不断在经典(śāstra)中挑剔过失的吹毛求疵者,实际上是在掠夺诸论典的权威。他们四处宣称:关于现实目的与治国权谋之学——阿尔塔之学(artha-vidyā)——并非真正可靠。”

परिमुष्णन्तिthey rob/steal away
परिमुष्णन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि+मुष्
FormLat, Present indicative, 3, Plural, Parasmaipada
शास्त्राणिthe treatises/scriptures
शास्त्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशास्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
शास्त्रदोषानुदर्शिनःthose who point out the faults of the śāstras
शास्त्रदोषानुदर्शिनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशास्त्र-दोष-अनुदर्शिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विज्ञानम्knowledge/understanding
विज्ञानम्:
TypeNoun
Rootविज्ञान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अर्थविद्यानाम्of the sciences of polity/wealth (artha-vidyā-s)
अर्थविद्यानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थविद्या
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सम्यक्properly/correctly
सम्यक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक्
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
वर्ततेit is said/it prevails (it stands as)
वर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootवृत्
FormLat, Present indicative, 3, Singular, Atmanepada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Ś
śāstra
A
artha-vidyā

Educational Q&A

Bhishma warns that obsessive fault-finding in śāstra does not merely critique details; it erodes the very normative authority of scripture and leads people to dismiss practical and ethical knowledge (artha-vidyā) as unreliable.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhishma continues his discourse on right conduct and governance, criticizing those who undermine established teachings by constantly highlighting supposed defects and thereby discredit disciplines concerned with artha (policy and worldly order).