Shloka 1

Brahmopadeśa on Saṃnyāsa, Tapas, and Jñāna (ब्रह्मोपदेशः—संन्यासतपोज्ञानविमर्शः)

Devanagari script

/ भीकम (2 अमान सप्तचत्वारिशो<् ध्याय: मुक्तिके साधनोंका

Transliteration

brahmovāca — saṃnyāsaṃ tapa ity āhur vṛddhā niścitavādinaḥ | brāhmaṇā brahmayonisthā jñānaṃ brahma paraṃ viduḥ ||

Translation

Brahmā dit : «Ô maharṣis ! Les sages âgés, fermes dans leurs conclusions, déclarent que le renoncement (saṃnyāsa) lui-même est la véritable austérité. Les brāhmaṇas qui demeurent dans la source de Brahman comprennent que la connaissance (jñāna) est le Brahman suprême.»

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• संन्यासम्: renunciation
• संन्यासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संन्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• आहुः: they say
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; प्रयोग: आहुः)
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वृद्धाः: elders/aged (ones)
• वृद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निश्चितवादिनः: those who speak with certainty/definite doctrine
• निश्चितवादिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चितवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्मयोनिस्थाः: situated in the source/origin that is Brahman
• ब्रह्मयोनिस्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मयोनिस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (the Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परम्: supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विदुः: they know/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Brāhmaṇas
• vṛddhāḥ (elders/sages)
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates inner renunciation (saṃnyāsa) as the highest austerity and identifies liberating knowledge (jñāna) with the Supreme Reality (Brahman), implying that realization—not mere external practice—is the decisive means toward liberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Brahmā speaks as an authoritative teacher, summarizing the settled view of venerable sages and Brahman-established Brāhmaṇas: renunciation is true tapas, and knowledge is the very nature of the Supreme Brahman.