Shloka 17

निवातकवचैः सह अर्जुनस्य रथयुद्धम्

Arjuna’s chariot engagement with the Nivātakavacas

Devanagari script

संवत्सरं ब्रह्मचारी नियत: संशितव्रत: । स जीवेद्धि निराबाध: स सुखी शरदां शतम्‌

Transliteration

saṃvatsaraṃ brahmacārī niyataḥ saṃśitavrataḥ | sa jīved dhi nirābādhaḥ sa sukhī śaradāṃ śatam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “If one lives for a full year as a disciplined brahmacārin—self-restrained and firm in vowed conduct—he indeed lives free from affliction, and he remains happy for a hundred autumns (that is, for a full, long life).”

Word by Word

• संवत्सरम्: for a year
• संवत्सरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मचारी: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नियतः: disciplined, restrained
• नियतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संशितव्रतः: one whose vow is sharpened/firm (of strict vows)
• संशितव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जीवेत्: may live / would live
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• निराबाधः: free from affliction/obstruction
• निराबाधः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराबाध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरदाम्: of years (lit. of autumns)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरद्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfast brahmacarya—regulated conduct and firm vows—supports a life that is both untroubled (nirābādha) and happy (sukhī), suggesting ethical self-mastery as a foundation for well-being and longevity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, states a general dharmic maxim: a person who maintains disciplined brahmacarya for a year, with strict observances, is said to enjoy freedom from affliction and a long, contented life.