Shloka 8

Devanagari script

तपो यज्ञस्तथा विद्या भैक्ष्यमिन्द्रियसंयम: । ध्यानमेकान्तशीलव्वं तुष्टिज्ञानं च शक्तित:

Transliteration

tapo yajñas tathā vidyā bhaikṣyam indriya-saṁyamaḥ | dhyānam ekānta-śīlatvaṁ tuṣṭi-jñānaṁ ca śaktitaḥ ||

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: „Askese, Opfer und Lernen; vom Almosen leben und die Sinne zügeln; Meditation, Neigung zur Abgeschiedenheit und Genügsamkeit samt wahrer Einsicht—dies alles soll man nach dem eigenen Vermögen pflegen.“

Word by Word

तपःausterity, penance

यज्ञःsacrifice, ritual

तथाand also, likewise

विद्याknowledge, learning

भैक्ष्यम्alms, mendicancy

इन्द्रियसंयमःrestraint of the senses

ध्यानम्meditation

एकान्तशीलत्वम्habit of solitude, being devoted to seclusion

तुष्टिःcontentment

ज्ञानम्knowledge, realization

चand

शक्तितःaccording to one's ability

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse lists core disciplines of dharmic life—tapas (austerity), yajña (sacrificial duty), vidyā (learning), mendicant simplicity, sense-restraint, meditation, solitude, contentment, and knowledge—and emphasizes practicing them in proportion to one’s capacity (śaktitaḥ), balancing effort with sustainability.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa is instructing on the means to peace and righteousness after the war, outlining a graded set of practices that cultivate inner steadiness and ethical conduct rather than merely external observance.