Shloka 26

Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 1 — The Pandavas’ Exit from Gajasāhvaya and the Citizens’ Lament (जनमेजयप्रश्नः; पाण्डवानां वनप्रस्थानम्)

Devanagari script

तस्मात्‌ प्राजजैश्न वृद्धैश्न सुस्वभावैस्तपस्विभि: । सद्िश्व सह संसर्ग: कार्य: शमपरायणै:,“इसलिये दिद्दवानों, वृद्ध पुरुषों तथा उत्तम स्वभाववाले शान्तिपरायण तपस्वी सत्पुरुषोंका संग करना चाहिये

Transliteration

tasmāt prājñaiś ca vṛddhaiś ca susvabhāvaiḥ tapassvibhiḥ | sadbhiś ca saha saṃsargaḥ kāryaḥ śamaparāyaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

Por ello, quien se consagra a la paz interior debe cultivar la compañía de los sabios y los ancianos, de los ascetas de noble disposición y austeridad disciplinada, y de los verdaderamente buenos; pues tal trato aquieta la conducta y guía hacia el dharma.

Word by Word

तस्मात्therefore/from that reason

प्राज्ञैःwith the wise

वृद्धैःwith elders

सुस्वभावैःwith those of good nature

तपस्विभिःwith ascetics

सद्भिःwith the good (virtuous people)

चand

सहtogether/with

संसर्गःassociation/company

कार्यःshould be done/ought to be made

शमपरायणैःwith those devoted to tranquility

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

prājña (the wise)

vṛddha (elders)

tapassvin (ascetics)

sat (the good/virtuous)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A person aiming at peace and self-mastery should deliberately seek the company of the wise, elders, ascetics, and the virtuous, because such association shapes character and supports dharmic living.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana states a general ethical instruction within the Vana Parva context, emphasizing that right conduct is strengthened through close association with calm, disciplined, and virtuous people.