Shloka 39

मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169

Devanagari script

तत: कदाचिदपरो द्विजस्तं देशमागत:

Transliteration

tataḥ kadācid aparaḥ dvijas taṃ deśam āgataḥ | jaṭā-valkala-mṛgacarma-dhārī svādhyāya-parāyaṇaḥ śuciḥ vinītaḥ niyamānukūla-bhojī brāhmaṇa-bhaktaḥ vedānāṃ pāraṅgato vidvān āsa |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“后来有一次，另一位婆罗门来到那片地方。他披结发髻，身着树皮衣，披鹿皮；专志于吠陀自修，行止清净而严谨，举止谦恭，饮食亦唯依戒律所许。他敬奉婆罗门，是一位通达并精熟诸吠陀的学者。”

Word by Word

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• कदाचित्: once/sometime
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

• अपरः: another
• अपरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजः: a brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देशम्: place/region
• देशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतः: having come/arrived
• आगतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• a brahmin (dvija)
• the region/locality (deśa)
• matted locks (jaṭā)
• bark garment (valkala)
• deerskin (mṛgacarma)
• the Vedas (vedāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ethical ideal of a brahmin-ascetic: purity, humility, disciplined living, regulated diet, and unwavering commitment to svādhyāya (Vedic study). Mastery of sacred knowledge is presented as inseparable from self-restraint and respectful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes the arrival of another brahmin into the area. The newcomer is characterized by ascetic attire (matted hair, bark cloth, deerskin) and exemplary virtues—devotion to study, purity, humility, and strict observance—setting up his role in the ensuing episode.