Shloka 25

Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction

Devanagari script

तस्माल्ल‍ोकमिमं राजन् स्वप्नमायामनोरथम् । वीक्ष्यायम्यात्मनात्मानं सम: शान्तो भव प्रभो ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tasmāl lokam imaṁ rājan svapna-māyā-manoratham vīkṣyāyamyātmanātmānaṁ samaḥ śānto bhava prabho

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട്, രാജാവേ, ഈ ലോകത്തെ സ്വപ്നം, മായാജാലം, മനസ്സിന്റെ കൽപ്പന എന്നപോലെ കണ്ടു, ബുദ്ധിയാൽ മനസ്സിനെ നിയന്ത്രിച്ച് സമതയും ശാന്തിയും പ്രാപിക്കേണമേ, പ്രഭോ।

Synonyms

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (तस्मात् इति अव्ययीभाववत्); meaning ‘therefore/from that’

• lokam: world
• lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• imam: this
• imam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies lokam

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• svapna-māyā-manoratham: (as) dreamlike, illusory, and fanciful
• svapna-māyā-manoratham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + manoratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष), chain-compound: ‘svapna iva māyā; māyāvat manorathaḥ’; Accusative, Singular, Masculine; qualifies lokam

• vīkṣya: having seen; having considered
• vīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + vi- + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): ‘having seen/considered’

• āyamya: having restrained
• āyamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yam (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund: ‘having restrained/controlled’

• ātmanā: by the self; with oneself
• ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• ātmānam: the self (mind)
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• samaḥ: equanimous
• samaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate adjective

• śāntaḥ: peaceful; calm
• śāntaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śam (धातु) + kta (क्त) / śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the world being like a dream (svapna-māyā)?

This verse teaches that worldly experience is unstable and mind-constructed, comparable to a dream; understanding this helps one detach and seek inner steadiness.

Why did Krishna say this to King Yudhishthira in Canto 10, Chapter 49?

In this section, Kṛṣṇa advises the king to rise above grief and agitation by recognizing the temporary, illusory nature of worldly events and cultivating self-control and equanimity.

How can I apply “restrain the self by the self” in modern life?

Practice conscious regulation of the mind—pause before reacting, reduce obsessive rumination, and anchor decisions in higher values (dharma), leading to calmness and balance.