Shloka 16

अध्याय १९० — वामदेव-वाम्य-वृत्तान्तः

The Vāmadeva Horses Episode and the Ethics of Promise

Devanagari script

कामक्रोधद्वेषमुक्ता नि:संगा वीतकल्मषा: । सत्त्वस्था निरहड्कारा नित्यमध्यात्मकोविदा:

Transliteration

kāmakrodhadveṣamuktā niḥsaṅgā vītakalmaṣāḥ | sattvasthā nirahaṅkārā nityam adhyātmakovidāḥ ||

Translation

The Deva said: Those who are freed from desire, anger, and hatred—detached, purified of stain—established in sattva, without egoism, and ever skilled in inner spiritual discernment: such persons embody the ethical ideal of self-mastery and inward wisdom that leads beyond bondage.

Word by Word

कामक्रोधद्वेषमुक्ताःfreed from desire, anger, and hatred

निःसङ्गाःdetached; without attachment

वीतकल्मषाःfree from impurity/sin

सत्त्वस्थाःestablished in sattva (goodness/purity)

निरहङ्काराःwithout ego; free from pride

नित्यम्always; constantly

अध्यात्मकोविदाःskilled/learned in the self (spiritual knowledge)

Speaker

देव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Deva (speaker)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Freedom from the triad of desire, anger, and hatred, together with detachment, purity, sattvic steadiness, and absence of ego, is presented as the mark of true spiritual maturity and ethical excellence.

What is happening in the narrative?

A divine speaker is describing the qualities of exemplary persons—those fit for higher spiritual attainment—by listing inner virtues (purity, detachment, ego-transcendence) rather than external status or ritual.