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Shloka 12

Āstravidyā-Pradarśana: The Kuru Princes’ Public Demonstration of Arms (आस्त्रविद्या-प्रदर्शनम्)

तथा मन्त्रविदो विप्रास्तपस्तप्त्वा सुदुष्करम्‌ । गुरूनभ्युपगच्छन्ति यशसो<र्थाय भाविनि,'भामिनि! मन्त्रवेत्ता ब्राह्मण अत्यन्त कठोर तपस्या करके भी यशके लिये गुरुजनोंकी शरण ग्रहण करते हैं

tathā mantravido viprās tapaḥ taptvā suduṣkaram | gurūn abhyupagacchanti yaśaso 'rthāya bhāvini ||

قال فايشَمبايانا: «وكذلك يا ذات النظر إلى العواقب، فإن البراهمة العارفين بالمانترا—مع أنهم يزاولون تقشّفاً بالغ العسر—لا يزالون يقصدون معلّميهم طلباً للمجد الحق. فشدة تهذيب النفس لا تُعدّ بديلاً عن الالتجاء المتواضع إلى الغورو؛ إن الشرف الباقي يقوم على تعلّمٍ منضبطٍ وعلى اعتمادٍ موقّرٍ على السلطة المشروعة».

तथाthus/so
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
मन्त्रविदःknowers of mantras
मन्त्रविदः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमन्त्रविद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विप्राःbrahmins
विप्राः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तपःausterity/penance
तपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तप्त्वाhaving performed (austerity)
तप्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootतप्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
सुदुष्करम्very difficult
सुदुष्करम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदुष्कर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
गुरून्teachers/elders
गुरून्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अभ्युपगच्छन्तिapproach/resort to
अभ्युपगच्छन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-उप-गम्
FormPresent, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Plural
यशसःof fame/glory
यशसः:
TypeNoun
Rootयशस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
अर्थायfor the sake/purpose
अर्थाय:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
भाविनिO future one / O lady (address)
भाविनि:
TypeNoun
Rootभाविनी
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
V
viprāḥ (Brahmins)
G
gurūn (teachers/gurus)
M
mantra (sacred formulas)

Educational Q&A

Even after achieving spiritual power through severe tapas, one should still approach and rely on the guru; genuine honor (yaśas) is tied to humility, disciplined learning, and respect for rightful authority, not to self-reliance alone.

Vaiśampāyana states a general principle: mantra-knowing Brahmins, despite performing extremely hard austerities, continue to seek out their teachers—highlighting the continuing necessity of guidance and the social-ethical ideal of reverence toward gurus.