Shloka 2

भृगु–भरद्वाजसंवादः: वर्णभेदस्य कर्माधारितव्याख्या

Bhrigu–Bharadvaja Dialogue: A Karma-Based Account of Varṇa

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठा भूतानां प्रज्ञा लाभ: परो मत: । प्रज्ञा नि:श्रेयसी लोके प्रज्ञा स्वर्गो मत: सताम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | prajñā pratiṣṭhā bhūtānāṃ prajñā lābhaḥ paro mataḥ | prajñā niḥśreyasī loke prajñā svargo mataḥ satām ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，智慧是一切众生坚固的根基；智慧被认为是他们最高的所得。在这世间，智慧引人趋向真正的福祉；在贤者的评断中，智慧本身就是天界。”

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom, intelligence
• प्रज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिष्ठा: support, foundation, refuge
• प्रतिष्ठा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom
• प्रज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लाभः: gain, benefit
• लाभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परः: supreme, highest
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतः: considered, held to be
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom
• प्रज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नि:श्रेयसी: leading to the highest good, salvific
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि:श्रेयसी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• प्रज्ञा: wisdom
• प्रज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वर्गः: heaven
• स्वर्गः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतः: considered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous (people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that prajñā (discerning wisdom) is the primary support of life and the greatest human profit: it brings niḥśreyasa (true welfare, the highest good) and is valued by the virtuous as equivalent to heaven itself.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising the king (Yudhishthira) on principles of right living and governance, emphasizing that wisdom is the essential basis for well-being and moral success.