Shloka 10

अरण्यवृत्ति-वैराग्योपदेशः | Forest Discipline and the Program of Non-Attachment

Devanagari script

एकान्तशीली विमृशन्‌ पक्‍्वापकक्‍्वेन वर्तयन्‌ । पितृन्‌ देवांश्व वन्येन वाग्भिरद्धिश्च तर्पयन्‌,एकान्तमें रहकर आध्यात्मिक तत्त्वका विचार किया करूँगा और कच्चा-पक्का जैसा भी फल मिल जायगा, उसीको खाकर जीवन-निर्वाह करूँगा। जंगली फल-मूल, मधुर वाणी और जलके द्वारा देवताओं तथा पितरोंको तृप्त करता रहूँगा

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ekāntaśīlī vimṛśan pakvāpakvena vartayan | pitṝn devāṁś ca vanyena vāgbhir adbhiś ca tarpayann |

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Living in seclusion and reflecting upon the highest spiritual principles, I shall sustain myself on whatever fruit comes to hand—ripe or unripe. With forest produce, with gentle and truthful speech, and with water, I shall continue to satisfy the gods and the ancestors.”

Word by Word

• {'युधिष्ठिर उवाच (yudhiṣṭhira uvāca)': 'Yudhiṣṭhira said', 'एकान्तशीली (ekāntaśīlī)': 'one whose habit is solitude

• devoted to seclusion', 'विमृशन् (vimṛśan)': 'reflecting, deliberating, contemplating', 'पक्वापक्वेन (pakvāpakvena)': 'with ripe or unripe (fruit)

• whatever state it may be', 'वर्तयन् (vartayan)': 'maintaining oneself

• carrying on one’s livelihood', 'पितॄन् (pitṝn)': 'the ancestors, manes', 'देवान् (devān)': 'the gods', 'वन्येन (vanyena)': 'with what is found in the forest

• wild produce (fruits, roots, etc.)', 'वाग्भिः (vāgbhiḥ)': 'with speech (especially pleasing/virtuous speech)', 'अद्भिः (adbhiḥ)': 'with waters', 'तर्पयन् (tarpayan)': 'satisfying, propitiating, offering contentment (through offerings/rites)'}

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Devas (gods)
• Forest produce (wild fruits/roots)
• Water

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethic of restrained living: cultivate solitude and reflection, accept simple sustenance without craving, and uphold ongoing duties of reverence—gratitude to gods and ancestors—through modest offerings, pure speech, and water.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira declares his intention to withdraw into a secluded, forest-based life, living on whatever wild fruits are available and continuing traditional acts of propitiation (tarpana) for the devas and pitṛs, emphasizing a disciplined, duty-centered renunciant posture.