Shloka 4
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
Devanagari script
हित्वा तु सुचिरं भक्ष्यं भोज्यांश्न तप आस्थित: । 22 88% | जनमेजय
Transliteration
hitvā tu suciraṃ bhakṣyaṃ bhojyāṃś ca tapa āsthitaḥ
Translation
Śaunaka said: “Having long renounced foods meant for chewing and for eating, he undertook austerity.”
Word by Word
हित्वाhaving abandoned
हित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootहा (त्यागे)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
सुचिरम्for a long time/long
सुचिरम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुचिर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भक्ष्यम्food to be eaten (edible)
भक्ष्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभक्ष्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भोज्यम्food to be enjoyed/consumed
भोज्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभोज्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अश्नन्eating
अश्नन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअश् (भक्षणे)
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तपःausterity/penance
तपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आस्थितःhaving undertaken/entered upon
आस्थितः:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था (स्थितौ/आश्रये)
Formक्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
शौनक उवाच
Characters & Entities
Ś
ŚaunakaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas (austerity) as a deliberate ethical practice grounded in restraint: renouncing sensory indulgence—here, food—becomes a means of cultivating self-mastery and dharmic steadiness.
Śaunaka describes a person who, for a long period, gives up ordinary forms of eating (both chewable and swallowable foods) and takes up an ascetic regimen, indicating a turn toward disciplined spiritual effort.