Shloka 22

Adhyaya 41 — Yogic Conduct and the Discipline Leading to Siddhi

Sanskrit

वाग्दण्डः कर्मदण्डश्च मनोदण्डश्च ते त्रयः ।

यस्यैते नियता दण्डाः स त्रिदण्डी महायतिḥ ॥

Transliteration

vāgdaṇḍaḥ karmadaṇḍaś ca manodaṇḍaś ca te trayaḥ / yasyāite niyatā daṇḍāḥ sa tridaṇḍī mahāyatiḥ

Translation

Le bâton de la parole, le bâton de l’action et le bâton de l’esprit : tels sont les trois. Celui en qui ces bâtons sont maîtrisés est un tridaṇḍin, un grand ascète.

Word by Word

• vāk-daṇḍaḥ: the discipline of speech
• vāk-daṇḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘daṇḍa of speech’

• karma-daṇḍaḥ: the discipline of action
• karma-daṇḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘discipline of action/deeds’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• mano-daṇḍaḥ: the discipline of mind
• mano-daṇḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘discipline of mind’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• te: these
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; numeral adjective qualifying ‘te’

• yasya: of whom/whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; relative pronoun

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• niyatāḥ: restrained/regulated
• niyatāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (कृदन्त; √yam यम्, क्त; with ni-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; past participle used adjectivally

• daṇḍāḥ: disciplines/restraints
• daṇḍāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; pronoun

• tri-daṇḍī: a tridaṇḍin (one with three disciplines)
• tri-daṇḍī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘one having three daṇḍas (disciplines)’

• mahā-yatiḥ: a great ascetic
• mahā-yatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘great ascetic’

Speakers

• Dattātreya instructing (didactic yoga discourse)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Dharma
• Asceticism
• Self-control

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

True renunciation is ethical integration: speech, body, and mind must be governed together. External marks (like a staff) are secondary; the defining feature is niyama—regulated non-harm and truthfulness at all three levels.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary instruction (upadeśa) rather than pancalakṣaṇa narrative. It supports the Purāṇic aim of dharma and mokṣa by prescribing inner discipline.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘three staffs’ correspond to the three instruments of karma-formation: vāk (speech), kāya (body), and manas (mind). Mastery of these ‘cuts’ the subtle bonds that propel rebirth.