Shloka 4
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
Devanagari script
हित्वा तु सुचिरं भक्ष्यं भोज्यांश्न तप आस्थित: । 22 88% | जनमेजय
Transliteration
hitvā tu suciraṃ bhakṣyaṃ bhojyāṃś ca tapa āsthitaḥ
Translation
शौनक बोले—बहुत समय से चबाने और खाने योग्य पदार्थों का त्याग करके उसने तपस्या का आश्रय लिया।
Word by Word
हित्वाhaving abandoned
हित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootहा (त्यागे)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
सुचिरम्for a long time/long
सुचिरम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुचिर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भक्ष्यम्food to be eaten (edible)
भक्ष्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभक्ष्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भोज्यम्food to be enjoyed/consumed
भोज्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभोज्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अश्नन्eating
अश्नन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअश् (भक्षणे)
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तपःausterity/penance
तपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आस्थितःhaving undertaken/entered upon
आस्थितः:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था (स्थितौ/आश्रये)
Formक्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
शौनक उवाच
Characters & Entities
Ś
ŚaunakaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas (austerity) as a deliberate ethical practice grounded in restraint: renouncing sensory indulgence—here, food—becomes a means of cultivating self-mastery and dharmic steadiness.
Śaunaka describes a person who, for a long period, gives up ordinary forms of eating (both chewable and swallowable foods) and takes up an ascetic regimen, indicating a turn toward disciplined spiritual effort.