Shloka 31

Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path

Ethics of Non-attachment

Devanagari script

अपापमशतं वृत्तमजिद्दां नित्यमाचरेत्‌ । जोषयेत सदा भोज्यं ग्रासमागतमस्पृह:

Transliteration

apāpam aśaṭhaṃ vṛttam ajihmāṃ nityam ācaret | joṣayet sadā bhojyaṃ grāsam āgatam aspṛhaḥ ||

Translation

वायु-देव ने कहा—मनुष्य को सदा पाप, शठता और कुटिलता से रहित आचरण करना चाहिए। जो अन्न-कौर अपने-आप प्राप्त हो जाए, उसे ग्रहण कर भोगे, पर उसके लिए भी मन में स्पृहा न रखे।

Word by Word

• अपापम्: sinless, free from evil
• अपापम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अशठम्: not deceitful, free from guile
• अशठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वृत्तम्: conduct, behavior
• वृत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अजिह्मम्: not crooked, straightforward
• अजिह्मम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजिह्म
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always, constantly
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• आचरेत्: should practice/observe
• आचरेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जोषयेत्: should accept/enjoy (make use of)
• जोषयेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जुष् (causative: जोषय-)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• भोज्यम्: fit to be eaten; edible (food)
• भोज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ग्रासम्: a mouthful, morsel
• ग्रासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतम्: come, obtained (of itself)
• आगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (क्त: आगत)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अस्पृहः: without desire, free from craving
• अस्पृहः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्पृह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu-deva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain sinless, straightforward conduct—free from deceit and crookedness—and live with contentment by accepting only what comes unasked, without inner craving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is instructing a listener on dharmic living, emphasizing moral integrity and a disciplined, desireless approach to sustenance.