Shloka 4

Devanagari script

केवलेनेह पुण्येन गतिमूर्ध्वामवाप्रुयात्‌

Transliteration

kevaleneha puṇyena gatim ūrdhvām avāpruyāt

Translation

ヤージュニャヴァルキヤは言った。「この世における功徳（プンニャ）だけによっても、人は上昇の道を得ることができる――より高き存在の位へと昇るのだ。」

Word by Word

• केवलेन: by mere/only
• केवलेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• पुण्येन: by merit/virtue
• पुण्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• गतिम्: a course/goal/destination
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ऊर्ध्वाम्: upward, higher
• ऊर्ध्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नुयात्: may attain/obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवाप् (अव + आप्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

याज़्वल्क्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse states that puṇya—ethical merit gained through righteous conduct—can by itself lead to an “upward” destiny, i.e., higher realms or improved states of existence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Yājñavalkya is presenting a doctrinal point about the fruits of action: he explains the efficacy of merit in determining one’s post-mortem or future course.