Shloka 223

Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative

Devanagari script

व्रतैश्न नियमैश्वनैव काले काले सम भुज्जते | वे सब-के-सब अन्न छोड़कर व्रत और नियमोंका पालन करते हुए समय-समयपर उस वृक्षका ही फल खाया करते थे

Transliteration

vrataiś ca niyamaiś caiva kāle kāle sama-bhuñjate

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Observant vœux et disciplines, ils prenaient, aux heures convenables, une nourriture mesurée et réglée. Ayant renoncé aux grains et aux aliments ordinaires, ils se soutenaient en ne consommant que le fruit de cet arbre, selon leur règle d’ascèse.

Word by Word

• व्रतैः: by/with vows
• व्रतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• नियमैः: by/with observances (rules)
• नियमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• अनैव: not at all / by no means
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन

• काले: at (the) time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• काले: at (the) time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सम्: together / completely (as a preverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• भुञ्जते: they eat / partake
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• tree (fruit-bearing tree)
• fruit (of the tree)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic self-restraint: true discipline is shown by regulated consumption and adherence to vows and rules, choosing simplicity over indulgence.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a group living under ascetic observances: they renounce ordinary food and, at set times, eat only the fruit of a particular tree as part of their vowed practice.