Shloka 20

Ādi-parva 109: Pāṇḍu’s Forest Hunt and Kiṃdama’s Curse (पाण्डोर्मृगयावृत्तान्तः—किंदमशापः)

Devanagari script

इतिहासपुराणेषु नानाशिक्षासु बोधिता: । वेदवेदाड्तत्त्वज्ञा: सर्वत्र कृतनिश्चया:,उन्हें इतिहास, पुराण तथा नाना प्रकारके शिष्टाचारोंका भी ज्ञान कराया गया। वे वेद- वेदांगोंके तत्त्वज्ञ तथा सर्वत्र एक निश्चित सिद्धान्तके माननेवाले थे

Transliteration

itihāsa-purāṇeṣu nānā-śikṣāsu bodhitāḥ | veda-vedāṅga-tattva-jñāḥ sarvatra kṛta-niścayāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: They were instructed in the Itihāsas and Purāṇas, and trained in many disciplines of proper conduct and education. They were knowers of the true purport of the Veda and its auxiliary sciences, and in every matter they stood firm in settled conviction—guided by a consistent principle.

Word by Word

• इतिहासपुराणेषु: in the Itihasas and Puranas
• इतिहासपुराणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहासपुराण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• नाना: various, many kinds of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना

• शिक्षासु: in teachings/instructions
• शिक्षासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• बोधिताः: were instructed/taught
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञाः: knowers of the truth/essence of the Vedas and Vedangas
• वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वत्र: everywhere/in all matters
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र

• कृतनिश्चयाः: of firm resolve; having made a definite conclusion
• कृतनिश्चयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Veda
• Vedāṅga
• Itihāsa
• Purāṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True learning is presented as comprehensive: mastery of revered narrative traditions (Itihāsa–Purāṇa), disciplined training in conduct and instruction (nānā-śikṣā), and principled understanding of the Veda with its auxiliaries. Such education yields steadiness of judgment (kṛta-niścaya) rather than mere information.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker describes the thorough education of the concerned persons: they have been taught epic and purāṇic lore, trained in multiple disciplines, and have attained authoritative understanding of Vedic and Vedāṅga principles, resulting in firm, consistent convictions in all matters.