Shloka 22

Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)

Devanagari script

कृतज्ञेन सदा भाव्य॑ मित्रकामेन चैव ह । मित्राच्च लभते सर्व मित्रात्‌ पूजां लभेत च

Transliteration

kṛtajñena sadā bhāvyaṁ mitrakāmena caiva ha | mitrāc ca labhate sarvaṁ mitrāt pūjāṁ labheta ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：人应当常怀感恩之心，并真诚地渴望友谊。因为从朋友那里，可以得到各样扶助；也正是从朋友那里，能获得荣誉与敬重。

Word by Word

• कृतज्ञेन: by/with a grateful (person)
• कृतज्ञेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतज्ञ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• भाव्यम्: should be (one should act/be)
• भाव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, obligation (ought to be)

• मित्रकामेन: by one desiring friends
• मित्रकामेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मित्रकाम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• मित्रात्: from a friend
• मित्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

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

• लभते: obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मित्रात्: from a friend
• मित्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• पूजाम्: honour/respect
• पूजाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• लभेत: would/should obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cultivate gratitude and an active disposition toward friendship; friendship becomes a source of practical help and also of social honor. The verse frames gratitude (kṛtajñatā) as the foundation for sustaining trustworthy relationships.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he offers a concise maxim on how a person should behave to gain and preserve friends, emphasizing gratefulness and a genuine wish for friendship.