Mahabharata 1.87.13 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 87, Shloka 13

ययाति–अष्टक–प्रतर्दन संवादः | Yayāti’s Dialogue with Aṣṭaka and Pratardana on Merit, Gifts, and Ethical Restraint

Devanagari script

शंसितात्मा जितक्रोधस्तर्पयन्‌ पितृदेवता: । अग्नींश्व विधिवज्जुद्धन्‌ वानप्रस्थविधानत:

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: śaṃsitātmā jitakrodhas tarpayan pitṛdevatāḥ | agnīṃś ca vidhivaj juhvan vānaprasthavidhānataḥ ||

Translation

ആത്മശുദ്ധി നേടി ക്രോധം ജയിച്ച്, അദ്ദേഹം ദേവന്മാർക്കും പിതൃദേവതകൾക്കും തർപ്പണം നടത്തി; വാനപ്രസ്ഥവിധാനപ്രകാരം വിധിപൂർവ്വം അഗ്നികളിൽ ഹോമം ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• शंसितात्मा: one whose self is purified/commended
• शंसितात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंसित-आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जितक्रोधः: one who has conquered anger
• जितक्रोधः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-क्रोध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तर्पयन्: satisfying / offering libations to
• तर्पयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (तर्पयति)
• Form: Present (participle), Singular

• पितृदेवताः: the Fathers (Pitṛs) and the deities
• पितृदेवताः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-देवता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• अग्नीन्: sacred fires
• अग्नीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• विधिवत्: according to rule/rite
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• जुह्वन्: offering (oblations)
• जुह्वन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (जुहोति)
• Form: Present (participle), Singular

• वानप्रस्थविधानतः: according to the injunctions of the vānaprastha (forest-dweller) stage
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वानप्रस्थ-विधान
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Devatās (gods)
• Agni / sacred fires (agnayaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma through inner discipline and outer duty: purification of mind, conquest of anger, and faithful performance of daily obligations—especially honoring gods and ancestors and maintaining sacred rites appropriate to one’s āśrama (here, Vānaprastha).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a person who has entered the forest-dweller mode of life, living by prescribed rules: he restrains anger, performs daily tarpana for gods and ancestors, and conducts fire-offerings (homa/agnnihotra) in a properly regulated manner.