Shloka 30

Adhyaya 32 — Sankhya Philosophy

Sanskrit

ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रेभ्यो योगी त्वग्राशनी यदि ।

यजमानञ्च भोक्तॄंश्च नौरीवाम्भसि तारयेत् ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasrebhyo yogī tv agrāśanī yadi / yajamānañ ca bhoktṝṃś ca naur ivāmbhasi tārayet

Translation

Wenn im śrāddha ein Yogin der erste Essende ist (der vornehmste Teilnehmer), dann kann (seine Gegenwart/sein Akt) sowohl den Stifter als auch die Speisenden hinübertragen—wie ein Boot auf dem Wasser—mehr als (selbst) tausend Brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha/Reference (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• सहस्रेभ्यः: from thousands
• सहस्रेभ्यः: Apadana/Source (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural; ‘from (among) thousands’

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• तु: but
• तु: Nipata/Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrastive

• अग्राशनी: (is) the foremost eater / eats first
• अग्राशनी: Visheshya-Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्राशनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘one who eats first’ (here as predicate/epithet)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha/Condition (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निपात)

• यजमानम्: the sacrificer (host)
• यजमानम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• भोक्तॄन्: the eaters/guests
• भोक्तॄन्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• नौः: a boat
• नौः: Upamana/Standard of comparison (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• इव: like
• इव: Upama/Comparison (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-निपात)

• अम्भसि: in water
• अम्भसि: Adhikarana/Location (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• तारयेत्: should ferry across / deliver
• तारयेत्: Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु √तॄ ‘to ferry across/save’)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Speakers

• Dharmic instruction within Markandeya Purana’s ritual discourse (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Yoga
• Merit (puṇya) hierarchy
• Salvation metaphor (crossing over)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Spiritual attainment is treated as a multiplier of ritual efficacy. The verse does not negate brāhmaṇa-hood but asserts that realized discipline (yoga) can outweigh mere numbers.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Doctrinal dharma/yoga teaching; ancillary to pancalakṣaṇa, useful for indexing ‘ritual efficacy via yogic presence’.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘boat’ image signals a guru-like function: a stabilized consciousness can serve as a vehicle across saṃsāra’s waters, uplifting both giver and recipients in the ritual field.