Shloka 19

Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारी व्रती नित्यं नित्यं दीक्षापरो वशी । परिचार्य तथा वेदं कृत्यं कुर्वन्‌ वसेत्‌ सदा

Transliteration

brahmacārī vratī nityaṁ nityaṁ dīkṣāparo vaśī | paricārya tathā vedaṁ kṛtyaṁ kurvan vaset sadā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“梵行者应恒为持戒之人，常常专注于受戒与诸般严谨行持，并自制其心与诸根。应如法奉事师长，修习《吠陀》；并在履行应尽之业时，常住于师家。”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्रती: one observing vows
• व्रती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always, constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• नित्यम्: always, continually
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• दीक्षापरः: intent on initiation/observances
• दीक्षापरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीक्षापर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वशी: self-controlled
• वशी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परिचार्य: having served/attended (upon)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + चर्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वेदम्: the Veda (study/recitation)
• वेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्यम्: duty, what ought to be done
• कृत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्वन्: doing, performing
• कुर्वन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसेत्: should dwell/live
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: Vidhi-linga (optative), Present-system, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches brahmacārin-dharma: constant self-restraint, faithful observance of vows and disciplined practices, service to the teacher, regular Vedic study, and steady performance of obligatory duties while residing in the guru’s household.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he outlines the proper conduct of a Vedic student (brahmacārin), emphasizing life in the gurukula with service, study, and disciplined duty.