Shloka 169
Devanagari script
एकं वर्षशतं चैव फलाहारस्ततो 5भवम् । द्वितीयं शीर्णपर्णाशी तृतीयं चाम्बुभोजन:
Transliteration
ekaṃ varṣaśataṃ caiva phalāhāras tato 'bhavam | dvitīyaṃ śīrṇaparṇāśī tṛtīyaṃ cāmbubhojanaḥ ||
Translation
ヴァースデーヴァは言った。「まる百年、私は果実のみで生きた。第二の百年には落ちた枯葉だけを食し、第三の百年には水だけを口にして命をつないだ。」
Word by Word
एकम्one
एकम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वर्षशतम्a hundred years
वर्षशतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ष-शत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
एवindeed/only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
फलाहारःone whose food is fruits (fruit-eater)
फलाहारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootफलाहार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ततःthen/thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
अभवम्I became/I was
अभवम्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), First, Singular
द्वितीयम्the second
द्वितीयम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वितीय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
शीर्णपर्णाशीone who eats fallen/dry leaves
शीर्णपर्णाशी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशीर्णपर्णाशिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तृतीयम्the third
तृतीयम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootतृतीय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
अम्बुभोजनःone whose food is water (water-drinker)
अम्बुभोजनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअम्बुभोजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वासुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)Character 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) and disciplined restraint as ethical power: progressively reducing dependence on food—fruits, then fallen leaves, then only water—illustrates endurance, self-control, and commitment to a higher dharmic purpose.
Vāsudeva narrates a sequence of long austerities undertaken over three centuries, describing the specific regimen of sustenance in each period to emphasize the intensity and sincerity of his ascetic practice.