Shloka 18

Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint

Devanagari script

(विद्याविदो लोकविद: तपोबलसमन्विता: । नित्यपूज्याश्र वन्द्याश्न द्विजा लोकद्वयेच्छुभि: ।।

Transliteration

somah uvāca | vidyāvido lokavidaḥ tapobalasamanvitāḥ | nityapūjyāś ca vandyāś ca dvijā lokadvaye hitaiḥ || ity etan me pitā śrutvā somād adbhutadarśanāt | brāhmaṇān pūjayāmāsa tathaivāhaṃ mahāvratān ||

Translation

ソーマは言った。「この世と来世、その両方の安寧を求める者は、聖なる知に通じ、世事にも明らかで、苦行の力と強さを備えたバラモンを、常に敬い礼拝し、拝して讃えるべきである。」驚くべき姿のソーマからこの教えを聞いた我が父は、大誓を守るバラモンたちを供養した。私もまた同じく行う。

Word by Word

• विद्याविदः: knowers of learning
• विद्याविदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लोकविदः: knowers of worldly matters
• लोकविदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तपोबलसमन्विताः: endowed with ascetic power and strength
• तपोबलसमन्विताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपोबलसमन्वित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नित्यपूज्याः: always worthy of worship
• नित्यपूज्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्यपूज्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वन्द्याः: worthy of reverence
• वन्द्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्द्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्विजाः: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लोकद्वय: in the two worlds (this and the next)
• लोकद्वय: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकद्वय
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• इच्छुभिः: by those who desire
• इच्छुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शुभिः: good (people)
• शुभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

सोम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Soma (Candra)
• Soma's father
• Brāhmaṇas (dvijāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One who seeks well-being in both this life and the next should continually honor and show reverence to Brahmins characterized by learning (vidyā), worldly discernment (loka-jñāna), and ascetic power (tapas/bala). The verse frames such respect as a dharmic practice with benefits spanning the 'two worlds.'

What is happening in the narrative?

Soma speaks a maxim about whom to honor for the sake of welfare in both worlds. He then adds a personal testimony: his father, after hearing this instruction from Soma (described as wondrous in appearance), worshipped great-vowed Brahmins, and Soma states that he follows the same practice.