Shloka 4

Adhyāya 314 — हिमवदाश्रमः, शक्तिक्षेपकथा, तथा स्वाध्यायविधिः

Himalayan Hermitage, the Myth of the Thrown Spear, and Rules of Vedic Study

Devanagari script

केवलेनेह पुण्येन गतिमूर्ध्वामवाप्रुयात्‌

Transliteration

kevaleneha puṇyena gatim ūrdhvām avāpruyāt

Translation

Yājñavalkya said: “By mere merit alone in this world, one may attain an upward course—rising to higher states of existence.”

Word by Word

• केवलेन: by mere/only
• केवलेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• पुण्येन: by merit/virtue
• पुण्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• गतिम्: a course/goal/destination
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ऊर्ध्वाम्: upward, higher
• ऊर्ध्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain/obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवाप् (अव + आप्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

याज़्वल्क्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse states that puṇya—ethical merit gained through righteous conduct—can by itself lead to an “upward” destiny, i.e., higher realms or improved states of existence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Yājñavalkya is presenting a doctrinal point about the fruits of action: he explains the efficacy of merit in determining one’s post-mortem or future course.