Shloka 17

Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra

Devanagari script

उत्तमां बुद्धिमास्थाय ब्रह्म भूयान्‌ भविष्यसि । संतीर्ण: सर्वसंसारात्‌ प्रसन्नात्मा विकल्मष:

Transliteration

uttamāṁ buddhim āsthāya brahma bhūyān bhaviṣyasi | saṁtīrṇaḥ sarvasaṁsārāt prasannātmā vikalmaṣaḥ ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: “Taking refuge in the highest understanding, you will become more fully established in Brahman. Having crossed beyond the entire round of worldly existence, you will abide with a serene self, free from stain.”

Word by Word

• उत्तमाम्: best, excellent
• उत्तमाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• बुद्धिम्: understanding, intellect
• बुद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having resorted to / having adopted
• आस्थाय: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (आ + स्था)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भूयान्: greater, more (in a higher state)
• भूयान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भविष्यसि: you will become
• भविष्यसि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• संतीर्णः: having crossed over, having passed beyond
• संतीर्णः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + तॄ
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वसंसारात्: from the entire cycle of worldly existence
• सर्वसंसारात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसंसार
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• प्रसन्नात्मा: one whose self is serene
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्नात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विकल्मषः: free from impurity/sin
• विकल्मषः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल्मष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Brahman
• Saṁsāra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cultivate and rely upon the highest discernment (uttamā buddhi)—a purified, truth-oriented understanding—so that one becomes established in Brahman, transcends saṁsāra, and attains inner serenity and freedom from moral and mental taint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa delivers a concise assurance and instruction: by adopting supreme spiritual understanding, the listener will cross beyond worldly bondage and abide as a tranquil, purified self, oriented toward Brahman-realization.