Shloka 343

Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

तपस्यागश्न योगश्न स तै: सर्वमवाप्नुयात्‌ । जिसकी वाणी और मन सदा एकाग्र रहते हैं तथा जिसमें तप, त्याग और योग-- तीनोंका समावेश है, वह उनके द्वारा सब कुछ पा लेता है

Transliteration

tapasyāgaś ca yogaś ca sa taiḥ sarvam avāpnuyāt |

Translation

Bhishma said: One in whom austerity, renunciation, and yogic discipline are all united—and whose speech and mind remain steadily concentrated—can, by these very means, attain all that is worth attaining.

Word by Word

तपस्यागश्नone who has (the qualities of) austerity and renunciation

योगश्नone who has yoga (is endowed with yoga)

सःhe

तैःby those (i.e., by these qualities)

सर्वम्everything

अवाप्नुयात्would obtain / may attain

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 that the highest human fulfillment arises from a combined practice of tapas (disciplined austerity), tyāga (renunciation of attachment), and yoga (steadiness and integration of mind). When these are unified—supported by one-pointedness of mind and truthful, aligned speech—a person becomes capable of attaining comprehensive spiritual and ethical success.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira with guidance on right living and liberation-oriented practice. Here he condenses a practical ideal: inner concentration together with the triad of austerity, renunciation, and yoga as the means to attain the highest ends.