Shloka 14

Śuka’s Manifestation from the Araṇi (Āraṇeya-janma) — शुकजन्म (आरणेय-सम्भव)

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यमतिवर्तन्ते अन्योन्यस्पर्थिनस्तथा । ते वध्यमाना हान्योन्यं गुणै्हारिभिरव्ययै:

Transliteration

anyonyam ativartante anyonya-sparthinas tathā | te vadhyamānā hy anyonyaṁ guṇair hāribhir avyayaiḥ, pṛthvīnātha |

Translation

Yājñavalkya dit : «Ô seigneur de la terre, les êtres se dépassent sans cesse les uns les autres et demeurent dans une rivalité réciproque. Bien qu’ils soient abattus (par les conséquences d’une telle conduite), ils s’assaillent encore, entraînés par des “qualités” séduisantes et en apparence inépuisables (les attraits des objets des sens).»

Word by Word

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually, one another
• अन्योन्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: adverbial accusative (avyayībhāva-like usage), singular

• अतिवर्तन्ते: overstep, surpass, transgress
• अतिवर्तन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति√वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: present, 3rd person, plural, Ātmanepada

• अन्योन्य: mutual, of one another
• अन्योन्य: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural (agreeing with स्पर्धिनः)

• स्पर्धिनः: rivals, competitors
• स्पर्धिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्धिन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: indeclinable

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• वध्यमानाः: being slain/struck down
• वध्यमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वध् (वध्य) + मान (शानच्)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural; present passive participle

• अन्योन्यम्: one another (each other)
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular (object used reciprocally)

• गुणैः: by qualities, by attributes
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

• हारिभिः: captivating, alluring
• हारिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हारिन्
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural (agreeing with गुणैः)

• अव्ययैः: imperishable, undecaying
• अव्ययैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural (agreeing with गुणैः)

• पृथ्वीनाथ: O lord of the earth (king)
• पृथ्वीनाथ: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी-नाथ
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya
• pṛthvīnātha (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse diagnoses the root of social strife: beings, captivated by attractive sense-objects and the play of guṇas, fall into rivalry, envy, and mutual harm—even while suffering the consequences. Ethical restraint and discernment are implied as the remedy.

What is happening in the narrative?

In a didactic exchange within Śānti Parva, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king (“lord of the earth”), explaining why creatures repeatedly clash with one another: mutual competition and the irresistible pull of alluring objects drive them into continual conflict.