Shloka 10

Jarā-Mṛtyu-anatikrama: Janaka–Pañcaśikha-saṃvāda

Aging and Death Cannot Be Overstepped

Devanagari script

विद्याविद्यार्थतत्त्वेन मयोक्ता ते विशेषत: । अक्षरं च क्षरं चैव यदुक्त तन्निबोध मे

Transliteration

vidyāvidyārthatattvena mayoktā te viśeṣataḥ | akṣaraṃ ca kṣaraṃ caiva yaduktaṃ tannibodha me

Translation

ವಸಿಷ್ಠನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ವಿದ್ಯೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅವಿದ್ಯೆಯ ತತ್ತ್ವಾರ್ಥವನ್ನು ನಾನು ನಿನಗೆ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ವಿವರಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಈಗ ಅಕ್ಷರ ಮತ್ತು ಕ್ಷರ ಕುರಿತು ಹೇಳಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನನ್ನಿಂದ ತಿಳಿದುಕೋ.

Word by Word

• विद्या: knowledge
• विद्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अविद्या: ignorance
• अविद्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अर्थतत्त्वेन: by the true meaning/purport
• अर्थतत्त्वेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थतत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

• उक्ता: has been spoken/said
• उक्ता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• विशेषतः: especially; in particular
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः

• अक्षरम्: the imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: अक्षर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• क्षरम्: the perishable
• क्षरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: क्षर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• यत्: which; what
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उक्तम्: said; spoken
• उक्तम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• निबोध: understand; know
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: of me; my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a transition from explaining the real meaning of knowledge versus ignorance to clarifying the distinction between the imperishable (akṣara) and the perishable (kṣara). Ethically, it points toward discernment: liberation-oriented knowledge recognizes what is enduring and what is transient, reducing attachment and confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha, as teacher, reminds the listener that he has already set out the essentials of vidyā and avidyā, and now invites attentive understanding of his further instruction about akṣara and kṣara—continuing a didactic, contemplative discourse typical of the Śānti Parva’s teachings on peace and liberation.