Shloka 3

Vānaprastha-vṛtti and the Transition toward the Fourth Āśrama (वानप्रस्थवृत्तिः चतुर्थाश्रमोपक्रमश्च)

Devanagari script

छिन्नदोषो मुनिर्योगान्‌ युक्तो युज्जीत द्वादश । देशकर्मानुरागार्थानुपायापायनिश्चयै:

Transliteration

chinnadoṣo munir yogān yukto yuñjīta dvādaśa | deśakarmānurāgārthān upāyāpāyaniścayaiḥ ||

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: Ein Weiser, der seine Fehler abgeschnitten hat und in der Zucht gefestigt ist, soll die zwölf yogischen Disziplinen üben, indem er klar unterscheidet hinsichtlich Ort und Verhalten, hinsichtlich der Bindungen und ihrer Ziele sowie hinsichtlich der rechten Mittel und der möglichen Gefahren oder Rückschläge—damit seine Übung wohlgeordnet und sittlich einwandfrei voranschreitet.

Word by Word

• छिन्नदोषः: one whose faults are cut off (faultless)
• छिन्नदोषः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्नदोष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• योगान्: yogas; disciplines/means of yoga
• योगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• युक्तः: yoked; disciplined; engaged
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युज्जीत: should practice/should apply (himself)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• देशकर्मानुरागार्थान्: objects of attachment: place, action, affection, and purpose
• देशकर्मानुरागार्थान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशकर्मानुरागार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उपायापायनिश्चयैः: by determinations of means and avoidance (approach and withdrawal)
• उपायापायनिश्चयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपायापायनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• muni (sage)
• dvādaśa yogāḥ (twelve yogic disciplines)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Purified character is the foundation of yoga: a sage free from faults should undertake disciplined practice, guided by clear discernment—choosing suitable place and conduct, understanding the pull and purpose of attachments, and judging both the right means and the risks that can derail progress.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa continues instructive discourse on spiritual discipline, outlining how a qualified sage should proceed—by engaging in a set of ‘twelve’ yogic practices while carefully evaluating context (place and action) and practical strategy (means versus dangers).