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Shloka 24

अग्निवंशवर्णनम् (Agni-vaṃśa-varṇana) / The Genealogy and Function of Agni

षण्णामात्मनि युक्तानामिन्द्रियाणां प्रमाथिनाम्‌ । यो धीरो धारयेद्‌ रश्मीन्‌ स स्यात्‌ परमसारथि:,जो धीर पुरुष अपने शरीरमें नित्य विद्यमान छः प्रमथनशील इन्द्रियरूपी अश्वोंकी बागडोर सँभालता है, वही उत्तम सारथि हो सकता है

ṣaṇṇām ātmani yuktānām indriyāṇāṁ pramāthinām | yo dhīro dhārayet raśmīn sa syāt paramasārathiḥ ||

Der Jäger sprach: „Nur der verdient den Namen des höchsten Wagenlenkers, der standhaft und selbstbeherrscht die Zügel der sechs ungestümen Sinne fest in der Hand hält, die an das Selbst im Leibe angeschirrt sind.“

षण्णाम्of six
षण्णाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootषट्
Form—, Genitive, Plural
आत्मनिin the self/body
आत्मनि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
युक्तानाम्joined/attached (present)
युक्तानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootयुक्त
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses
इन्द्रियाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
प्रमाथिनाम्violent/impetuous
प्रमाथिनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रमाथिन्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धीरःsteadfast, wise
धीरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धारयेत्should hold/keep under control
धारयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootधृ
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
रश्मीन्reins
रश्मीन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरश्मि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्यात्would be
स्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
परमसारथिःthe best charioteer
परमसारथिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपरम-सारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

व्याध उवाच

V
vyādha (the hunter, speaker)
Ā
ātman (self)
I
indriyāṇi (the senses)
R
raśmi (reins)
S
sārathi (charioteer)

Educational Q&A

True excellence lies in self-mastery: the wise person restrains the restless senses as a skilled charioteer controls horses with reins. Ethical life (dharma) is grounded in disciplined inner governance rather than outward status.

In the Vana Parva’s dialogue where the hunter instructs on dharma, he uses a chariot metaphor to explain that a person becomes ‘the supreme charioteer’ by firmly controlling the senses that constantly agitate the mind and conduct.