Shloka 121

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

एषा बुद्धि: समस्तानां चातुर्वण्यें निदर्शिता

Transliteration

eṣā buddhiḥ samastānāṃ cāturvarṇye nidarśitā | dharma-artha-mokṣa-yuktaṃ śubham itihāsaṃ sadā śrutvā manuṣya ihaloke paraloke ca ānandasya anubhavaṃ karoti ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“此等智慧，已为四姓之中一切众人而宣示。若恒常聆听这吉祥的圣史——具足法（dharma）、利（artha）与解脱（moksha）——人便能在此世与彼世同得喜乐。”

Word by Word

• एषा: this (f.)
• एषा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• बुद्धिः: understanding; doctrine; view
• बुद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• समस्तानाम्: of all (persons)
• समस्तानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• चातुर्वर्ण्ये: in the fourfold social order (of varṇas)
• चातुर्वर्ण्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्वर्ण्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• निदर्शिता: shown; indicated; set forth
• निदर्शिता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + दृश्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (PPP agreeing with subject)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• cāturvarṇya (fourfold varṇa order)
• itihāsa (sacred history)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that the guidance being presented is meant for everyone across the fourfold social order, and that sustained listening to an auspicious dharma-oriented narrative—one that also supports artha and moksha—brings well-being and joy in both this life and the next.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma continues his counsel by emphasizing the universality of the teaching and recommending śravaṇa (regular listening) to the sacred history as a practical means to cultivate right understanding and attain happiness here and hereafter.