Shloka 7

Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ

Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics

Devanagari script

प्रत्यक्षदर्शी लोकस्य तिर्यगूर्ध्यमधस्तथा । सांख्ययोगविभागज्ञो निर्विवित्सु: सुरासुरान्‌ू

Transliteration

pratyakṣadarśī lokasya tiryagūrdhvamadhastathā | sāṅkhyayogavibhāgajño nirvivitsuḥ surāsurān |

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— അവൻ ലോകത്തെ പ്രത്യക്ഷമായി കണ്ടവൻ—തിര്യക്‌, ഊർദ്ധ്വം, അധഃ എന്നിങ്ങനെ എല്ലാദിശകളിലും. സാംഖ്യവും യോഗവും തമ്മിലുള്ള ഭേദം അറിഞ്ഞതിനാൽ, ദേവാസുരന്മാരോടു മത്സരിക്കണമെന്ന ആഗ്രഹത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അവൻ വിമുക്തനായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

प्रत्यक्षदर्शीdirectly-seeing; eyewitness

लोकस्यof the world/people

तिर्यक्horizontally; across

ऊर्ध्वम्upwards

अधःdownwards; below

तथाand so; likewise

सांख्ययोगविभागज्ञःknower of the distinctions between Sāṅkhya and Yoga

निर्विवित्सुःdesiring to know/ascertain (fully)

सुरासुरान्gods and demons

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

sura (devas)

asura

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a person of direct, comprehensive insight who understands the distinction between Sāṅkhya (discriminative knowledge) and Yoga (disciplined realization), and who therefore does not seek rivalry even with the highest powers (gods and demons). Ethically, it elevates inner clarity and non-competitiveness over domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a figure’s qualities: all-directional, direct perception of the world; doctrinal discernment regarding Sāṅkhya and Yoga; and a temperament free from the urge to contend with powerful beings. The line functions as character-enrichment, highlighting spiritual maturity and restraint.