Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

न चरत्यधिकारेण सेवेत द्विषतो न च । एषो5<श्रमपदस्तात ब्रह्मुचारिण इष्यते

Transliteration

na caraty adhikāreṇa seveta dviṣato na ca | eṣo ’śramapadas tāta brahmacāriṇa iṣyate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“梵行者（brahmacārin）不应以自恃权利与权威之态行事，也不应去亲近或侍奉怀恨之人。亲爱的孩子，郁提施提罗——这正是学生阶段（梵行期）所认可的戒律。”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• चरति: acts / behaves
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अधिकारेण: by/with authority; by (one's) entitlement
• अधिकारेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सेवेत: should serve / should associate
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• द्विषतः: those who hate; enemies
• द्विषतः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आश्रमपदः: the station/duty of an āśrama
• आश्रमपदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रमपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तात: dear one / son (term of address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: of a brahmacārin (celibate student)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• इष्यते: is held to be / is approved
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (passive-like sense: 'is considered/approved')

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• brahmacārin (student in the brahmacarya āśrama)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The brahmacārin’s dharma is humility and restraint: do not parade one’s status or rights, and avoid associating with those driven by hatred, since such company corrupts conduct and learning.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he specifies a practical rule for the brahmacarya āśrama—how a student should behave socially and ethically.