Shloka 45

भृगु–भरद्वाजसंवादः: वर्णभेदस्य कर्माधारितव्याख्या

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

Devanagari script

उत जाता: सुनक्षत्रे सुतिथौ सुमुहूर्तजा: । यज्ञदानप्रजेहायां यतन्ते शक्तिपूर्वकम्‌

Transliteration

uta jātāḥ sunakṣatre sutithau sumuhūrtajāḥ | yajñadānaprajehāyāṃ yatante śaktipūrvakam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“凡生于吉祥星宿之下，生于吉日（月日）与吉时者，皆竭尽其力行祭祀、施赠与布施；并且也努力以合乎公正与达摩的方式延续子嗣。”

Word by Word

• उत: and also / moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

• जाताः: born
• जाताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुनक्षत्रे: in a good constellation (nakshatra)
• सुनक्षत्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-नक्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सुतिथौ: on a good lunar day (tithi)
• सुतिथौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तिथि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सुमुहूर्तजाः: born at an auspicious moment (muhūrta)
• सुमुहूर्तजाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-मुहूर्त-ज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यज्ञ: sacrifice
• यज्ञ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दान: gift / charity
• दान: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजेहायाम्: in begetting offspring (lit. in the production of progeny here)
• प्रजेहायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-इह
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• यतन्ते: they strive / make effort
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada

• शक्तिपूर्वकम्: according to (their) capacity; with full ability
• शक्तिपूर्वकम्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति-पूर्वक

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Auspicious circumstances of birth are presented as conducive to a dharmic life: one should, within one’s means, uphold the householder ideals of sacrifice (yajña), charity (dāna), and righteous continuation of lineage (prajā) through just conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by describing the conduct of those born at favorable times: they actively pursue ritual duty, generosity, and socially just family life, emphasizing effort aligned with capacity.