Shloka 18

परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मभि: शंसितानां प्रकृत्या शंसितात्मनाम्‌ । ऋजूनां शमनित्यानां स्वेषु कर्मसु वर्तताम्‌

Transliteration

svakarmabhiḥ śaṃsitānāṃ prakṛtyā śaṃsitātmanām | ṛjūnāṃ śamanityānāṃ sveṣu karmasu vartatām ||

Translation

Kapila dit : «Ils étaient grandement loués pour l’excellence de leurs propres actes. Par nature, leur esprit était pur et bien maîtrisé ; ils étaient droits, toujours voués à la paix, et fermes dans l’accomplissement de leurs devoirs respectifs.»

Word by Word

• स्वकर्मभिः: by (their) own deeds
• स्वकर्मभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वकर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शंसितानाम्: of those who are praised/commended
• शंसितानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रकृत्या: by nature
• प्रकृत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• शंसितात्मनाम्: of those whose selves are praised (i.e., of praised-minded/renowned persons)
• शंसितात्मनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ऋजूनाम्: of the straightforward/upright (ones)
• ऋजूनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शमनित्यानाम्: of those ever devoted to peace/calm
• शमनित्यानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शमनित्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्वेषु: in their own
• स्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: स्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• कर्मसु: in (their) actions/duties
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• वर्तताम्: let them abide / may they conduct themselves
• वर्तताम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Imperative, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

कपिल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kapila

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True praise arises from one’s own righteous conduct: innate purity, straightforwardness, commitment to peace (śama), and steady adherence to one’s proper duties (svakarma) are presented as marks of ethical excellence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kapila is describing a class of exemplary people whose reputation is grounded in their deeds and character—peaceful, sincere, and firmly established in their own prescribed works—using them as an ethical model within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline.