Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शान्तिकं पौष्टिक॑ रक्षा शत्रुघ्न भयनाशनम्‌ | जप्यं यद्‌ ब्रह्म॒समितं तद्‌ भवान्‌ वक्तुमहति

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | śāntikaṁ pauṣṭikaṁ rakṣā śatrughnaṁ bhayanāśanam | japyaṁ yad brahmasammitaṁ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||

Translation

યુધિષ્ઠિરે કહ્યું—શાંતિ, પુષ્ટિ, રક્ષા, શત્રુનાશ અને ભયનિવારણ કરનાર, વેદસમાન માન્ય એવો કયો જપનીય મંત્ર છે? કૃપા કરીને તે કહો.

Word by Word

• शान्तिकम्: peace-giving (thing/mantra)
• शान्तिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्तिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पौष्टिकम्: nourishing, promoting prosperity
• पौष्टिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौष्टिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शत्रुघ्नम्: enemy-destroying
• शत्रुघ्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुघ्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भयनाशनम्: fear-dispelling
• भयनाशनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयनाशन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जप्यम्: to be recited (as japa)
• जप्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मसमितम्: approved/attested by Brahman (i.e., Veda-like, authoritative)
• ब्रह्मसमितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मसमित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वक्तुम्: to tell, to speak
• वक्तुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• अर्हति: is worthy/ought (to)
• अर्हति: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames mantra-recitation (japa) as a dharmic means to cultivate peace, welfare, protection, and fearlessness, and it emphasizes that such a practice should be grounded in Vedic authority (brahmasammita), not merely personal preference.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions an elder/teacher, requesting instruction about a revered, Veda-sanctioned mantra whose recitation is said to confer peace, prosperity, protection, victory over enemies, and the removal of fear.