Shloka 88

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

श्रद्धया परया यस्त्वं तपश्चरसि सुव्रत

Transliteration

śraddhayā parayā yastvaṃ tapaś carasi suvrata

Translation

The father-in-law said: “Because you practice austerity with supreme faith, O you of excellent vows, …” (The line introduces praise for the addressee’s disciplined tapas, grounding the ensuing counsel in the ethical power of sincere devotion and steadfast self-restraint.)

Word by Word

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परया: supreme, highest
• परया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चरसि: you practice/perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative

• सुव्रत: O you of good vows
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

श्षशुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• śvaśura (father-in-law, speaker)
• suvrata (addressee, ‘one of good vows’)
• tapas (austerity/ascetic practice)
• śraddhā (faith)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True austerity (tapas) gains ethical and spiritual force when it is performed with supreme faith (parā śraddhā) and steady vows (suvrata). The verse frames disciplined practice as the foundation for further instruction or blessing.

What is happening in the narrative?

A father-in-law addresses someone he regards as steadfast in vows, commending the person’s sincere ascetic practice. This praise functions as a lead-in to whatever request, counsel, or consequence follows in the surrounding passage.