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Shloka 8

Sanatsujāta–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Saṃvāda: Brahmacarya and the Formless Brahman

Udyoga Parva 44

सद्‌ वासद्‌ वा परीवादो ब्राह्मणस्य न शस्यते । नरकप्रतिष्ठास्ते वै स्युर्य एवं कुर्वते जना:,सच्ची हो या झूठी, दूसरोंकी निन्‍्दा करना ब्राह्मणको शोभा नहीं देता। जो लोग दूसरोंकी निन्‍्दा करते हैं, वे अवश्य ही नरकमें पड़ते हैं

sad vā asad vā parīvādo brāhmaṇasya na śasyate | naraka-pratiṣṭhās te vai syur ye evaṁ kurvate janāḥ ||

Sanatsujāta teaches that whether a report is true or false, speaking ill of others is not befitting for a brāhmaṇa. Those who indulge in fault-finding and slander inevitably set themselves upon the road to hell.

सत्true (statement)
सत्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसत् (प्रातिपदिक; √अस्-शतृ)
Formneuter, nominative, singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
असत्false (statement)
असत्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअसत् (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + सत्)
Formneuter, nominative, singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
परीवादःslander, reviling
परीवादः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपरीवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
ब्राह्मणस्यof a Brahmin
ब्राह्मणस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formmasculine, genitive, singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शस्यतेis praised / is proper
शस्यते:
TypeVerb
Root√शंस्
Formpresent, passive, third, singular
नरकप्रतिष्ठाःhaving hell as their abode / destined for hell
नरकप्रतिष्ठाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनरक-प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
तेthey
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
स्युःwould be / surely become
स्युः:
TypeVerb
Root√अस्
Formoptative, parasmaipada, third, plural
येwho
ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
एवंthus, in this manner
एवं:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवं
कुर्वतेdo, act
कुर्वते:
TypeVerb
Root√कृ
Formpresent, ātmanepada, third, plural
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formmasculine, nominative, plural

सनत्युजात उवाच

S
Sanatsujāta
B
brāhmaṇa
N
naraka

Educational Q&A

Even if something is factually true, indulging in disparagement (parīvāda) is not commendable—especially for one committed to disciplined, dharmic conduct. Slander and fault-finding corrupt speech and character and lead to grave karmic consequences.

In the Sanatsujātīya section of the Udyoga Parva, Sanatsujāta instructs (in a didactic dialogue) on dharma and inner discipline. Here he specifically warns against the moral danger of speaking ill of others, linking it to downfall and suffering.