Mahabharata 9.37.223 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 37, Shloka 223

Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative

Devanagari script

व्रतैश्न नियमैश्वनैव काले काले सम भुज्जते | वे सब-के-सब अन्न छोड़कर व्रत और नियमोंका पालन करते हुए समय-समयपर उस वृक्षका ही फल खाया करते थे

Transliteration

vrataiś ca niyamaiś caiva kāle kāle sama-bhuñjate

Translation

ಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲ ಅನ್ನವನ್ನೂ ತ್ಯಜಿಸಿ ವ್ರತ-ನಿಯಮಗಳನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತ, ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಸಮಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿತವಾಗಿ ಭುಂಜಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು; ತಮ್ಮ ತಪೋನಿಯಮದಂತೆ ಆ ವೃಕ್ಷದ ಫಲವನ್ನೇ ಮಾತ್ರ ಆಹಾರವಾಗಿ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

Word by Word

• व्रतैः: by/with vows
• व्रतैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• नियमैः: by/with observances (rules)
• नियमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अनैव: not at all / by no means
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन

• काले: at (the) time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• काले: at (the) time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सम्: together / completely (as a preverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्

• भुञ्जते: they eat / partake
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• tree (fruit-bearing tree)
• fruit (of the tree)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic self-restraint: true discipline is shown by regulated consumption and adherence to vows and rules, choosing simplicity over indulgence.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a group living under ascetic observances: they renounce ordinary food and, at set times, eat only the fruit of a particular tree as part of their vowed practice.