Shloka 4

ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana

River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor

Devanagari script

विशोकता सुखं धत्ते धत्ते चारोग्यमुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

viśokatā sukhaṃ dhatte dhatte cārogyam uttamam

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“无忧无悲（viśokatā）赐予快乐，也赐予至上的安泰——卓越的健康。在此教诲中，不生忧伤不仅是一种情绪，更是一种道德—心理的修持，使人生稳固而健全。”

Word by Word

• विशोकता: freedom from sorrow, sorrowlessness
• विशोकता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशोकता (विशोक + ता)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धत्ते: bestows, produces, brings about
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (डुधाञ् धारणपोषणयोः)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

• धत्ते: bestows, produces, brings about
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (डुधाञ् धारणपोषणयोः)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

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

• आरोग्यम्: health
• आरोग्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cultivating viśokatā—freedom from grief—leads to sukha (inner ease) and supports uttama ārogya (excellent health). The verse links ethical-psychological steadiness with holistic well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of peace and right living. Here he emphasizes that overcoming sorrow is a key foundation for a happy and healthy life.