Shloka 22

कर्म–ज्ञान–दैव–स्वभावविचारः

Inquiry into Karma, Knowledge, Fate, and Nature

Devanagari script

नापत्रपश्च युक्तश्न नियुक्त: श्रेयसे परै: । अभेत्ता परगुह्यानां तस्मात्‌ सर्वत्र पूजित:

Transliteration

nāpatrapaś ca yuktaśna niyuktaḥ śreyase paraiḥ | abhettā paraguhyānāṃ tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu dit : «Il n’est pas sans pudeur ; il est discipliné dans sa conduite et mesuré dans sa nourriture. Les autres l’emploient pour leur propre bien, car il est voué à ce qui est véritablement salutaire. Il ne divulgue pas les secrets d’autrui ; c’est pourquoi il est honoré partout.»

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'na', 'definition': 'not'}, {'term': 'āpatrapaḥ', 'definition': 'shameless

• devoid of modesty (here negated: ‘not shameless’)'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'yuktaśna', 'definition': 'moderate/regulated in eating

• temperate'}, {'term': 'niyuktaḥ', 'definition': 'appointed, engaged, employed (by others)'}, {'term': 'śreyase', 'definition': 'for the good

• for what is beneficial'}, {'term': 'paraiḥ', 'definition': 'by others'}, {'term': 'abhettā', 'definition': 'one who does not break

• one who does not disclose'}, {'term': 'para-guhyānām', 'definition': 'of others’ secrets/confidential matters'}, {'term': 'tasmāt', 'definition': 'therefore

• for that reason'}, {'term': 'sarvatra', 'definition': 'everywhere

• in all places'}, {'term': 'pūjitaḥ', 'definition': 'honored

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A trustworthy and respected person is marked by self-restraint (including moderation in food), commitment to others’ welfare (śreyas), and strict confidentiality—never disclosing others’ secrets.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is describing Nārada’s qualities: he is disciplined and beneficial to others, so people entrust him with welfare-oriented tasks; because he does not betray confidences, he is honored everywhere.