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Shloka 3

कपिलगोसंवादे गृहस्थ-त्यागधर्मयोः प्रमाण्यविचारः

Kapila–Cow Dialogue: Authority of Householder and Renunciant Dharmas

प्राचीन कालमें जाजलि नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक ब्राह्मण थे, जो वनमें ही रहते और विचरते थे। उन महातपस्वी जाजलिने समुद्रके तटपर जाकर बड़ी भारी तपस्या की ।।

bhīṣma uvāca | prācīne kāle jājali-nāmnā prasiddha eko brāhmaṇo ’bhavat, yo vane eva vasati sma vicacāra ca | sa mahātapā jājaliḥ samudrasya taṭaṃ gatvā mahāntam tapaś cacāra || niyato niyatāhāraś valkalājinajaṭādharaḥ | malapaṅkadharo dhīmān bahūn varṣagaṇān muniḥ ||

Bhishma sprach: In uralter Zeit lebte ein Brahmane, berühmt unter dem Namen Jājali, der nur im Wald wohnte und umherzog. Dieser große Asket Jājali begab sich an das Meeresufer und übte eine überaus strenge Askese. In Zucht und Maß, mit geregelter, abgemessener Nahrung, trug er Rindenkleider, ein Hirschfell und verfilzte Haarsträhnen (jata). Weise und unbeirrbar stand der Muni viele Jahre, den Leib von Schmutz und Schlamm in Schichten bedeckt — ein Sinnbild unerschütterlicher Ausdauer und Selbstbeherrschung auf der Suche nach geistiger Vollendung.

नियतःdisciplined, self-controlled
नियतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनियत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नियताहारःof regulated food/intake
नियताहारः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनियताहार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वल्कलाजिनजटाधरःwearing bark-garments, antelope-skin, and matted locks
वल्कलाजिनजटाधरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवल्कलाजिनजटाधर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मलपङ्कधरोbearing filth and mud
मलपङ्कधरो:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमलपङ्कधर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धीमान्wise, intelligent
धीमान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधीमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बहून्many
बहून्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
वर्षगणान्groups of years; many years
वर्षगणान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवर्षगण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
मुनिःsage
मुनिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
J
Jājali
B
Brahmin
F
forest (vana)
O
ocean (samudra)
S
seashore (samudra-taṭa)
B
bark-garment (valkala)
D
deerskin (ājina)
M
matted locks (jaṭā)

Educational Q&A

The verse foregrounds tapas and niyama—disciplined living and regulated consumption—as ethical foundations for spiritual progress. Jājali’s endurance symbolizes mastery over bodily comfort and appetite, presenting self-restraint as a key component of dharma.

Bhishma begins recounting an old account about the Brahmin ascetic Jājali. Jājali lives in the forest, goes to the ocean’s shore, and performs severe austerities for many years, marked by ascetic attire and unwavering physical endurance.