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Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 14

Śuka’s Nirveda: Vyāsa’s Admonition on Dharma, Impermanence, and ‘Imperishable Wealth’ (अक्षय-धन)

अनृशंस: शुचिर्दान्त: सत्यवागार्जवे स्थित: । योनिकर्मविशुद्धश्न पात्र स्याद्‌ वेदविद्‌ द्विज:

anṛśaṁsaḥ śucir dāntaḥ satyavāg ārjave sthitaḥ | yonikarmaviśuddhaś ca pātraṁ syād vedavid dvijaḥ ||

毗湿摩言:通达吠陀之婆罗门,若具慈悲而不残忍,行止清净,自制诸根,言语真实,安住于坦直;并且出身(族系)与行为两方面皆清净,则为受施之最上福田。

अनृशंसःnon-cruel, compassionate
अनृशंसः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअनृशंस
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शुचिःpure, clean
शुचिः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दान्तःself-controlled, restrained
दान्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदान्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सत्यवाक्truth-speaking
सत्यवाक्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्यवाच्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
आर्जवेin straightforwardness, in rectitude
आर्जवे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआर्जव
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
स्थितःstanding/established (in)
स्थितः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootस्था
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
योनिकर्मविशुद्धःpure in birth and conduct
योनिकर्मविशुद्धः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootयोनिकर्मविशुद्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पात्रःa fit recipient, worthy vessel
पात्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपात्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्यात्should be / may be
स्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular
वेदविद्knower of the Veda
वेदविद्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवेदविद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्विजःtwice-born (brahmin)
द्विजः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
D
dvija (Brāhmaṇa)
V
Veda

Educational Q&A

The core teaching is that the right recipient of charity (pātra) is defined by moral character and disciplined conduct—compassion, purity, self-restraint, truthfulness, and straightforwardness—together with recognized purity of lineage and deeds, and Vedic learning.

In the Śānti Parva’s dharma instruction, Bhīṣma is advising on norms of righteous giving (dāna), specifying the ethical qualifications that make a Veda-knowing Brahmin the most suitable recipient.