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 dijo: «Si alguien vive un año entero como un brahmacārin disciplinado—dueño de sí y firme en su voto—vive en verdad libre de aflicción, y permanece dichoso durante cien otoños (es decir, una vida larga y plena)».

Word by Word

संवत्सरम्for a year

ब्रह्मचारीa celibate student (brahmacārin)

नियतःdisciplined, restrained

संशितव्रतःone whose vow is sharpened/firm (of strict vows)

सःhe

जीवेत्may live / would live

हिindeed, for

निराबाधःfree from affliction/obstruction

सःhe

सुखीhappy

शरदाम्of years (lit. of autumns)

शतम्a hundred

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

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.