Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

सर्वस्य दयिता: प्राणा: सर्व: स्नेहं च विन्दति । तिर्यग्योनिष्वपि सतां स्नेह पश्यत यादृशम्‌

Transliteration

sarvasya dayitāḥ prāṇāḥ sarvaḥ snehaṃ ca vindati | tiryagyonīṣv api satāṃ snehaṃ paśyata yādṛśam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“对一切众生而言，自身的生命气息最为珍贵；而每个生灵也都会从他者那里得到爱怜。你且看那走兽飞禽之中——众生对其子嗣的爱，是何等深厚。”

Word by Word

• सर्वस्य: of everyone
• सर्वस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• दयिताः: dear/beloved
• दयिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राणाः: life-breaths; lives
• प्राणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वः: everyone
• सर्वः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्नेहम्: affection
• स्नेहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विन्दति: finds/obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (विन्दति)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तिर्यक्: in animal (non-human) states
• तिर्यक्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिर्यक्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• योनिषु: in wombs/species; births
• योनिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सताम्: of the good/noble (beings)
• सताम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्नेहम्: affection
• स्नेहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पश्यत: see (you all)!
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (पश्य)
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• यादृशम्: what kind/how great
• यादृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma highlights a universal ethical insight: every being cherishes its own life, and affection—especially parental love—arises naturally across all species. Recognizing this commonality supports compassion and restraint in conduct toward others.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction, Bhīṣma is teaching about right conduct by appealing to an observable truth from nature: even animals and birds display strong love for their young, so humans should understand the value of life and cultivate empathy.