Shloka 20

Brāhmaṇa-pūjā, Haviḥ-dāna, and the Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī Saṃvāda

Chapter 34

Devanagari script

केशव! जिनके मनमें ममता नहीं है

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | keśava! yeṣāṁ manasi mamatā nāsti, ye pratidhvandvair rahitāḥ, lajjām atikrāntāḥ, kvacid api nirprayojanāḥ; vedajñānabalena durdharṣāḥ, pravacanakuśalāḥ, brahmavādinaḥ; ahiṁsāyāṁ tatparāḥ satya-vratāś ca sadā, indriyasaṁyama-mano-nigraha-sādhaneṣu saṁlagnāḥ—tān ahaṁ namasyāmi || devatātithipūjāyāṁ yuktā ye gṛhamedhinaḥ | kapotavṛttayo nityaṁ tān namasyāmi yādava ||

Translation

ナーラダは言った。「おおケーシャヴァよ！　心より執着が滅び、二つの対立（寒暑・苦楽など）を離れ、羞恥をも超え、いかなる所にも私利の目的を持たぬ者たちに、私はナマスカーラを捧げる。ヴェーダの知によって力を得て、彼らは攻め難き者となる。説法に巧みで、梵（ブラフマン）を語る。さらに不殺生に励み、生涯にわたり真実の誓いを立て、諸根の制御と心の統御という修行に常に身を置く。加えて、おおヤーダヴァよ！　常に『鳩の道』—少欲知足—により暮らし、神々を礼拝し来客を敬う家住者たちにも、私は頭を垂れて礼拝する。」

Word by Word

• देवता: deity (as object of worship)
• देवता: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिथि: guest
• अतिथि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पूजायाम्: in worship
• पूजायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• युक्ताः: engaged, devoted
• युक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गृहमेधिनः: householders
• गृहमेधिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहमेधिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कपोतवृत्तयः: those whose livelihood is like a pigeon’s (simple subsistence)
• कपोतवृत्तयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोतवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य
• Form: true

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नमस्यामि: I bow to / I salute
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (नम्)
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यादव: O Yādava
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Yādava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Vedas
• Brahman
• Devatā (gods)
• Atithi (guest)
• Gṛhamedhins (householder Brahmins)
• Kapota (pigeon) as an ethical exemplar

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Nārada honors two complementary ideals of dharma: (1) the renunciate-like sage who is free from possessiveness, steady amid opposites, devoted to ahiṁsā and satya, and disciplined in mind and senses; and (2) the exemplary householder who lives simply (kapota-vṛtti) while faithfully worshiping the gods and serving guests. The teaching is that spiritual excellence is measured by inner detachment and ethical restraint, whether in ascetic life or in household life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Nārada addresses Kṛṣṇa (Keśava/Yādava) and offers reverential salutations to virtuous Brahmins—first describing the qualities of spiritually formidable teachers of Brahman, then praising householders devoted to ritual duty and hospitality. The passage functions as a moral commendation of ideal conduct across āśramas.