Shloka 38

Arjuna’s request to Krishna and the opening of the Kāśyapa–Brāhmaṇa mokṣa discourse (Āśvamedhika-parva 16)

Devanagari script

ततः कदाचितन्निवेदान्निराकाराश्रितेन च । लोकतत्त्र॑ परित्यक्तं दुःखार्तेन भृशं॑ मया

Transliteration

tataḥ kadācit tannivedān nirākārāśritena ca | lokatattvaṃ parityaktaṃ duḥkhārtena bhṛśaṃ mayā ||

Translation

Puis, un jour —usé par des afflictions répétées— mon cœur fut rempli d’un profond repentir. Accablé par la souffrance, je cherchai refuge auprès du Suprême sans forme, et je renonçai à tout l’enchevêtrement des usages et des affaires du monde.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस्

• कदाचित्: once/sometime
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

• अनिवेदात्: from dissatisfaction/discontent
• अनिवेदात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिवेद
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• निराकार-आश्रितेन: by/with one who has taken refuge in the formless (Lord)
• निराकार-आश्रितेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराकाराश्रित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• लोक-तत्त्वम्: worldly conduct/affairs (the principle of worldly dealings)
• लोक-तत्त्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकतत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परित्यक्तम्: abandoned/renounced
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• दुःख-आर्तेन: by one afflicted with sorrow
• दुःख-आर्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखार्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भृशम्: greatly/excessively
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

सिद्ध उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Siddha (speaker)
• nirākāra paramātman (formless Supreme Self)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Repeated suffering can awaken dispassion (vairāgya), leading one to seek refuge in the formless Supreme and to renounce worldly entanglements; the verse frames renunciation as an ethical-spiritual response to the recognition of the limits of worldly life.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Siddha recounts a turning point: after enduring many hardships, he becomes deeply remorseful and distressed, takes shelter in the formless परमात्मा, and abandons ordinary social/worldly transactions (loka-vyavahāra).