Shloka 18

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियाणामुदीर्णानां कामत्यागो<5प्रमादत: । अप्रमादो<5विहिंसा च ज्ञानयोनिरसंशयम्‌,विषयोंकी ओर दौड़नेवाली इन्द्रियोंकी भोग-कामनाओंका पूर्ण सावधानीके साथ त्याग कर देना, प्रमादसे दूर रहना तथा किसी भी प्राणीकी हिंसा न करना--ये तीन निश्चय ही तत्त्वज्ञानकी उत्पत्तिमें कारण हैं

Transliteration

indriyāṇām udīrṇānāṁ kāmatyāgo 'pramādataḥ | apramādo 'vihiṁsā ca jñānayonir asaṁśayam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: When the senses rush outward toward their objects, renouncing desire with vigilant care, remaining free from heedlessness, and refraining from harming any living being—these three, without doubt, become the very source from which true knowledge arises.

Word by Word

इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses

उदीर्णानाम्of (those) impelled/roused (i.e., rushing forth)

कामत्यागःabandonment of desire (sense-enjoyment craving)

अप्रमादतःwith vigilance / carefully

अप्रमादःvigilance, non-negligence

अहिंसाnon-violence

चand

ज्ञानयोनिःsource/cause of knowledge

असंशयम्undoubtedly

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

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?

True knowledge arises from three disciplines: (1) renouncing desire when the senses surge toward objects, (2) maintaining constant vigilance (apramāda), and (3) practicing non-harm (avihiṁsā).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, as the great conflict approaches, Sañjaya reports teachings that emphasize inner restraint and ethical conduct—presenting self-mastery and non-violence as foundations for right understanding amid impending war.