Shloka 16

Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)

Devanagari script

जितेन्द्रियश्षात्मवांक्ष॒ मेधावी धर्मसेविता । षड्वर्गजिन्महाबुद्धिर्नीतिशास्त्रविदुत्तम:,उन्होंने अपनी इन्द्रियोंको जीतकर मनको अपने वशमें कर रखा था। वे मेधावी तथा धर्मका सेवन करनेवाले थे। उन्होंने काम, क्रोध, लोभ, मोह, मद और मात्सर्य--इन छहों शत्रुओंपर विजय प्राप्त कर ली थी। उनकी बुद्धि विशाल थी। वे नीतिके विद्वानोंमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ थे

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca | jitendriyaś cātmavaśaḥ medhāvī dharmasevitaḥ | ṣaḍvargajit mahābuddhir nītiśāstravid uttamaḥ ||

Translation

Janamejaya said: He had conquered his senses and kept his mind under firm control. He was intelligent and devoted to the practice of dharma. Having overcome the six inner foes—desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and envy—he possessed a vast intellect and stood foremost among those learned in the science of right conduct and polity.

Word by Word

जितेन्द्रियःone who has conquered the senses

आत्मवान्self-controlled, possessing self-mastery

मेधावीintelligent, wise

धर्मसेविताone who practices/serves dharma

षड्वर्गजित्conqueror of the sixfold group (six inner enemies)

महाबुद्धिःof great intellect

नीतिशास्त्रवित्knower of the science of polity/ethics

उत्तमःthe best, excellent

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Janamejaya

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True excellence in a leader is grounded in inner mastery: conquering the senses and the six inner enemies (desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride, envy). Such self-rule supports dharma and enables clear, ethical judgment in nīti (right conduct and governance).

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya is describing the qualities of an exemplary person being spoken about in the surrounding account—praising his self-restraint, devotion to dharma, victory over inner vices, and superior knowledge of ethical and political conduct.