Shloka 7

Rajo-guṇa-nirdeśa — Brahmā’s Enumeration of Rajasic Dispositions

Devanagari script

परिचर्यानुशुश्रूषा सेवा तृष्णा व्यपाश्रय: । व्यूह़ो नयः प्रमादश्न॒ परिवाद: परिग्रह:

Transliteration

paricaryānuśuśrūṣā sevā tṛṣṇā vyapāśrayaḥ | vyūho nayaḥ pramādaś ca parivādaḥ parigrahaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu dit : «L’assistance et l’écoute docile ; le service ; la soif du désir ; la dépendance envers autrui ; l’agencement stratégique ; l’opportunisme politique ; la négligence ; la médisance ; et l’avidité d’acquérir — telles sont les tendances qui enchaînent l’homme et l’éloignent de la fermeté dans le dharma.»

Word by Word

परिचर्याattendance, service

अनुशुश्रूषाobedient listening, attentive service

सेवाservice

तृष्णाcraving, thirst

व्यपाश्रयःdependence, taking refuge (in another)

व्यूहःarray, formation, arrangement

नयःpolicy, guidance, prudence

प्रमादःnegligence, heedlessness

परिवादःslander, reproach

परिग्रहःacceptance, acquisition, possession

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse lists behaviors and mental tendencies—craving, dependence, negligence, slander, and grasping—that undermine ethical steadiness. It cautions that even socially praised acts like service or political skill can become binding when driven by attachment, ambition, or lack of discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is speaking and enumerating a set of traits to be recognized and restrained. The tone is admonitory and diagnostic, as part of a broader instruction on right conduct and the inner causes of moral decline.