Shloka 6

Devanagari script

अश्वस्तनविधाता स्यान्मुनिर्भावसमाहित: । लघ्वाशी नियताहार: सकृदन्ननिषेविता,वह दूसरे दिनके लिये अन्नका संग्रह न करे। चित्त-वृत्तियोंको एकाग्र करके मौनभावसे रहे। हलका और नियमानुकूल भोजन करे तथा दिन-रातमें केवल एक ही बार अन्न ग्रहण करे

Transliteration

aśvastana-vidhātā syān munir bhāva-samāhitaḥ | laghvāśī niyatāhāraḥ sakṛd-anna-niṣevitā ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: “A sage should not lay in provisions for the next day. With his inner faculties gathered into one-pointedness, he should abide in silence and composure. He should eat lightly, taking food in a disciplined and regulated manner, and partake of grain only once in the day and night.”

Word by Word

अश्वस्तनविधाताone who provides (food) for the next day (i.e., stores for tomorrow)

स्यात्should be

मुनिःsage

भावसमाहितःwith mind/inner state collected; mentally concentrated

लघ्वाशीone who eats lightly

नियताहारःregulated in diet; having controlled food-intake

सकृत्once

अन्ननिषेविताone who partakes of food (only once)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

muni (sage)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches ascetic restraint: do not hoard food for tomorrow, keep the mind collected and quiet, eat lightly with regulated discipline, and limit oneself to a single meal within the day-night cycle.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa lays down practical rules of conduct for a muni—guidelines for daily living that cultivate detachment, simplicity, and mental concentration.