Mahabharata 3.2.78 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 78

ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः

Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction

Devanagari script

सम्यक्संकल्पसंबन्धात्‌ सम्यक्‌ चेन्द्रियनिग्रहात्‌ । सम्यग्व्रतविशेषाच्च सम्यक्‌ च गुरुसेवनात्‌

Transliteration

samyak-saṅkalpa-sambandhāt samyak cendriya-nigrahāt | samyag-vrata-viśeṣāc ca samyak ca guru-sevanāt ||

Translation

Śaunaka sagt: Der Mensch erlangt das höchste Heil, indem er den Geist recht an einen einzigen, wohlgeformten Entschluss bindet; indem er die Sinne gehörig zügelt; indem er besondere Gelübde wie Ahimsā (Gewaltlosigkeit) sorgfältig einhält; und indem er dem Lehrer (Guru) in hingebungsvoller Verehrung dient.

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• संकल्प-संबन्धात्: from (the) connection/association with resolve (right intention)
• संकल्प-संबन्धात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकल्प-संबन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सम्यक्: properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• इन्द्रिय-निग्रहात्: from restraint of the senses
• इन्द्रिय-निग्रहात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय-निग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सम्यक्: properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• व्रत-विशेषात्: from (observing) particular vows/observances
• व्रत-विशेषात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत-विशेष
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सम्यक्: properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• गुरु-सेवनात्: from service to the teacher
• गुरु-सेवनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-सेवन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• guru

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True welfare (parama-kalyāṇa) arises from disciplined inner and outer practice: focused resolve (saṅkalpa), restraint of the senses (indriya-nigraha), faithful observance of ethical vows (vrata, e.g., ahiṃsā), and humble service to the guru (guru-sevā).

What is happening in the narrative?

Śaunaka, in a didactic mode, enumerates foundational disciplines for spiritual progress. Rather than describing an event, the verse functions as instruction within the broader forest-book context, emphasizing the means to attain the highest good.