Mahabharata — Ashramavasika Parva, Shloka 25

अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal

Devanagari script

दर्शनादेव भवतां पूतो<हं नात्र संशय:

Transliteration

darśanād eva bhavatāṃ pūto ’haṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “By the very sight of you, I have been purified—of this there is no doubt.”

Word by Word

• दर्शनात्: from (your) seeing / from the sight
• दर्शनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भवताम्: of you (honorable ones)
• भवताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पूतः: purified
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अत्र: here, in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that association with, and even the mere sight of, the virtuous and spiritually eminent is considered purifying; reverence toward such persons is itself an ethical and devotional act aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, speaking respectfully, declares that he feels spiritually cleansed simply by beholding the honored persons he is addressing, emphasizing their sanctity and his own humility.