Shloka 18

परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मभि: शंसितानां प्रकृत्या शंसितात्मनाम्‌ । ऋजूनां शमनित्यानां स्वेषु कर्मसु वर्तताम्‌,अपने उत्तम कर्मोंके कारण उनकी बड़ी प्रशंसा होती थी। वे स्वभावसे ही पवित्रचित्त, सरल, शान्तिपरायण और स्वधर्मनिष्ठ होते थे

Transliteration

svakarmabhiḥ śaṃsitānāṃ prakṛtyā śaṃsitātmanām | ṛjūnāṃ śamanityānāṃ sveṣu karmasu vartatām ||

Translation

Kapila said: “They were highly praised because of their own excellent deeds. By nature their minds were pure and well-regulated; they were straightforward, ever devoted to peace, and steadfast in performing their respective duties.”

Word by Word

स्वकर्मभिःby (their) own deeds

शंसितानाम्of those who are praised/commended

प्रकृत्याby nature

शंसितात्मनाम्of those whose selves are praised (i.e., of praised-minded/renowned persons)

ऋजूनाम्of the straightforward/upright (ones)

शमनित्यानाम्of those ever devoted to peace/calm

स्वेषुin their own

कर्मसुin (their) actions/duties

वर्तताम्let them abide / may they conduct themselves

Speaker

कपिल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kapila

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True praise arises from one’s own righteous conduct: innate purity, straightforwardness, commitment to peace (śama), and steady adherence to one’s proper duties (svakarma) are presented as marks of ethical excellence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kapila is describing a class of exemplary people whose reputation is grounded in their deeds and character—peaceful, sincere, and firmly established in their own prescribed works—using them as an ethical model within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline.