Shloka 22

शकुनि (हिरण्मय-पक्षी) उपदेशः — Vighasāśin and the Difficulty of Gārhasthya

Devanagari script

एतद्‌ विदुस्तपो विप्रा द्वन्द्ातीता विमत्सरा: । तस्माद्‌ व्रतं मध्यमं तु लोकेषु तप उच्यते

Transliteration

etad vidus tapo viprā dvandvātītā vimatsarāḥ | tasmād vrataṁ madhyamaṁ tu lokeṣu tapa ucyate ||

Translation

Brahmins who have transcended all pairs of opposites and are free from envy understand this alone to be true austerity. Therefore, although vows are also called ‘austerity’ in common usage, they are regarded as of a middling grade when compared with the higher discipline of inner equanimity and the selfless performance of sacred duties.

Word by Word

• {'etad': 'this (very thing)', 'viduḥ': 'know, understand (perfect/preterite sense: ‘have known’)', 'tapaḥ': 'austerity

• disciplined self-restraint', 'viprāḥ': 'Brahmins

• learned sages', 'dvandvātītāḥ': 'those who have gone beyond dualities (pleasure/pain, gain/loss, honor/dishonor, etc.)', 'vimatsarāḥ': 'free from matsara (envy, jealousy, spite)', 'tasmāt': 'therefore, for that reason', 'vratam': 'vow

• self-imposed rule', 'madhyamam': 'middling

• intermediate in rank', 'tu': 'but

• indeed (contrast/emphasis)', 'lokeṣu': 'in the world

• among people', 'ucyate': 'is called

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• viprāḥ (Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True tapas is primarily inner: freedom from envy and transcendence of dualities. External vows may be called austerity, but they are secondary unless grounded in inner equanimity and purity of intent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna articulates a doctrinal point within the Shanti Parva’s ethical instruction: he reports what wise Brahmins regard as genuine austerity, contrasting inner transformation with merely external observances.