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Shloka 53

Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path

Ethics of Non-attachment

तथैनमवमन्येरन्‌ परे सततमेव हि । यथावृत्तश्नरेच्छान्त: सतां धर्मानकुत्सयन्‌

tathainam avamanyeran pare satatam eva hi | yathāvṛttaśnarecchāntaḥ satāṃ dharmān akutsayan |

“In that case, others would continually hold him in contempt. But one who is content with whatever comes in the natural course of events, and who does not disparage the righteous ways upheld by the good, remains steady and beyond such reproach.”

तथाthus, in that manner
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एनम्him
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अवमन्येरन्would disrespect / might slight
अवमन्येरन्:
TypeVerb
Rootअवमन् (अव + मन्)
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
परेothers, opponents/people
परे:
Karta
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootपर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सततम्always, continually
सततम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसतत
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
हिfor, indeed
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
यथाas, just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
वृत्तwell-conducted, of good conduct
वृत्त:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृत्त (√वृत्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्नरunclear/rare word (possibly corrupt reading)
श्नर:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्नर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इच्छान्तःdesiring
इच्छान्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootइच्छत् (√इष्/इच्छ्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सताम्of the good (people)
सताम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootसत्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
धर्मान्duties, righteous principles
धर्मान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अकुत्सयन्did not censure / did not revile
अकुत्सयन्:
TypeVerb
Rootकुत्सय् (कुत्स्) + अ-
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva
P
pare (other people)
S
satām (the virtuous/good people)

Educational Q&A

Cultivate contentment with what comes naturally and avoid criticizing the dharmic conduct of the virtuous; otherwise one invites continual contempt from others.

Vāyudeva is advising about proper ethical disposition: a person should be moderate and accepting of circumstances, and should not fault the righteous standards upheld by good people, since social disdain follows from contrary behavior.