Shloka 21

Devanagari script

तस्मादेतैरधिक्षिप्त: सहेन्नित्यमसंज्वर: । गृहधर्मपरो विद्वान्‌ धर्मशीलो जितक्लम:,अतः इनके द्वारा कभी अपना तिरस्कार भी हो जाय तो सदा क्रोधरहित रहकर सहन कर लेना चाहिये। गृहस्थधर्मका पालन करनेवाले विद्वान्‌ पुरुषको निश्चिन्त होकर क्लेश और थकावटको जीतकर धर्मका निरन्तर पालन करते रहना चाहिये

Transliteration

tasmād etair adhikṣiptaḥ sahen nityam asaṃjvaraḥ | gṛhadharmaparo vidvān dharmaśīlo jitaklamaḥ ||

Translation

Therefore, even if one is insulted or disparaged by such people, one should always endure it without agitation or anger. A wise person devoted to the duties of the householder should remain steadfast in righteous conduct, conquering fatigue and distress, and continue the practice of dharma without interruption.

Word by Word

• {'tasmāt': 'therefore, for that reason', 'etaiḥ': 'by these (people/things)

• instrumental plural of etad', 'adhikṣiptaḥ': 'reviled, insulted, disparaged

• one who is spoken to contemptuously', 'sahen': 'should endure/bear

• optative of √sah', 'nityam': 'always, continually', 'asaṃjvaraḥ': 'without feverish agitation

• untroubled, unperturbed (often implying freedom from anger/inner heat)', 'gṛha-dharma-paraḥ': 'devoted to the dharma of the householder (gṛhastha duties)', 'vidvān': 'wise, learned person', 'dharma-śīlaḥ': 'of righteous character

• habituated to dharma', 'jita-klamaḥ': 'one who has conquered weariness/fatigue

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches kṣamā (forbearance) and inner composure: even when insulted, one should not become heated with anger, but endure calmly. For a gṛhastha, steadfast daily practice of dharma—despite fatigue or distress—is presented as the mark of wisdom and righteous character.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers ethical instruction. Here he advises the listener on proper conduct under provocation, emphasizing restraint, endurance, and unwavering commitment to householder duties and moral discipline.