Shloka 22

कर्म–ज्ञान–दैव–स्वभावविचारः

Inquiry into Karma, Knowledge, Fate, and Nature

Devanagari script

नापत्रपश्च युक्तश्न नियुक्त: श्रेयसे परै: । अभेत्ता परगुह्यानां तस्मात्‌ सर्वत्र पूजित:

Transliteration

nāpatrapaś ca yuktaśna niyuktaḥ śreyase paraiḥ | abhettā paraguhyānāṃ tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “He is not shameless; he is disciplined in his conduct and measured in his food. Others engage him for their own welfare, for he is devoted to what is truly beneficial. He does not divulge the secrets of others; therefore he is honored everywhere.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'na', 'definition': 'not'}, {'term': 'āpatrapaḥ', 'definition': 'shameless

• devoid of modesty (here negated: ‘not shameless’)'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'yuktaśna', 'definition': 'moderate/regulated in eating

• temperate'}, {'term': 'niyuktaḥ', 'definition': 'appointed, engaged, employed (by others)'}, {'term': 'śreyase', 'definition': 'for the good

• for what is beneficial'}, {'term': 'paraiḥ', 'definition': 'by others'}, {'term': 'abhettā', 'definition': 'one who does not break

• one who does not disclose'}, {'term': 'para-guhyānām', 'definition': 'of others’ secrets/confidential matters'}, {'term': 'tasmāt', 'definition': 'therefore

• for that reason'}, {'term': 'sarvatra', 'definition': 'everywhere

• in all places'}, {'term': 'pūjitaḥ', 'definition': 'honored

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A trustworthy and respected person is marked by self-restraint (including moderation in food), commitment to others’ welfare (śreyas), and strict confidentiality—never disclosing others’ secrets.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is describing Nārada’s qualities: he is disciplined and beneficial to others, so people entrust him with welfare-oriented tasks; because he does not betray confidences, he is honored everywhere.