Shloka 14

ययातेर्वानप्रस्थतपःस्वर्गारोहणम् | Yayāti’s Vānaprastha Austerities and Ascent to Heaven

Devanagari script

ययातिरुवाच ब्रह्मचर्येण वेदो मे कृत्स्न: श्रुतिपर्थ गत: । राजाहूं राजपुत्रश्न ययातिरिति विश्रुत:,ययातिने कहा--ैंने ब्रह्मचर्यपालनपूर्वक सम्पूर्ण वेदका अध्ययन किया है। मैं राजा नहुषका पुत्र हूँ और इस समय स्वयं राजा हूँ। मेरा नाम ययाति है

Transliteration

yayātir uvāca brahmacaryeṇa vedo me kṛtsnaḥ śrutipathaṃ gataḥ | rājāhaṃ rājaputraś ca yayātir iti viśrutaḥ ||

Translation

Yayāti sprach: „Durch die Zucht des Brahmacarya habe ich den gesamten Veda gemeistert und ihn auf den Pfad heiliger Gelehrsamkeit gestellt. Ich bin ein König und von Geburt auch ein Königssohn; berühmt bin ich unter dem Namen Yayāti.“

Word by Word

ययातिःYayati

उवाचsaid

ब्रह्मचर्येणby (means of) celibacy / student-discipline

वेदःthe Veda

मेof me / my

कृत्स्नःentire, complete

श्रुतिपथम्the path of learning by hearing (oral tradition)

गतःhas gone to / has attained

राजाking

अहम्I

राजपुत्रःking's son, prince

नहुषस्यof Nahusha

ययातिःYayati

इतिthus

विश्रुतःwell-known, renowned

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yayāti

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Moral authority is grounded in disciplined conduct (brahmacarya), mastery of sacred learning (Veda/śruti), and rightful social responsibility (kingship and lineage). Yayāti presents these as credentials for ethical speech and leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yayāti introduces himself, asserting that he has completed Vedic study through brahmacarya and identifying himself as a renowned king and prince by birth, preparing the audience to accept his forthcoming account or request.