Shloka 83

ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः

Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction

Devanagari script

पितृमातृमयी सिद्धि: प्राप्ता कर्ममयी च ते । तपसा सिद्धिमन्विच्छ द्विजानां भरणाय वै,यज्ञ, युद्धादि कर्मोंसे प्राप्त होनेवाली सिद्धि पितृ-मातृमयी (परलोक और इहलोकमें भी लाभ पहुँचानेवाली) है, जो आपको प्राप्त हो चुकी है। अब तपस्याद्वारा वह योगसिद्धि प्राप्त करनेका प्रयत्न कीजिये जिससे ब्राह्मणोंका भरण-पोषण हो सके

Transliteration

pitṛmātṛmayī siddhiḥ prāptā karmamayī ca te | tapasā siddhim anviccha dvijānāṁ bharaṇāya vai ||

Translation

Śaunaka said: “You have already attained the accomplishment that comes through action—an attainment that benefits both forefathers and mothers, bringing welfare in this world and the next. Now, through austerity, seek that higher yogic accomplishment by which the sustenance and support of the twice-born (Brahmins) may be ensured.”

Word by Word

• {'pitṛ-mātṛ-mayī': 'consisting in (or oriented toward) fathers and mothers

• beneficial to ancestors and parents', 'siddhiḥ': 'attainment

• spiritual or practical success', 'prāptā': 'obtained

• attained', 'karma-mayī': 'arising from action/ritual duty

• constituted of works', 'te': 'to you

• your', 'tapasā': 'by austerity

• through ascetic discipline', 'siddhim': 'accomplishment

• attainment (accusative)', 'anviccha': 'seek

• pursue', 'dvijānām': 'of the twice-born

• especially Brahmins', 'bharaṇāya': 'for the support/maintenance

• for sustenance', 'vai': 'indeed

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• dvijāḥ (twice-born/Brahmins)
• pitaraḥ (forefathers)
• mātaraḥ (mothers/parents)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes between merit gained through prescribed actions (karma-siddhi) and a higher attainment pursued through austerity (tapas). It frames spiritual striving as ethically directed: one should seek power/attainment that serves dharma, here expressed as the rightful support and maintenance of the twice-born (especially Brahmins).

What is happening in the narrative?

Śaunaka addresses a listener/recipient, acknowledging that they have already gained an action-born success that benefits family/ancestors across both worlds. He then urges them to undertake austerities to obtain a further yogic accomplishment, specifically so that Brahmins may be properly sustained—linking spiritual practice with social-religious responsibility.