Shloka 11

Mokṣa-dharma Yoga-Upadeśa: Equanimity, Sense-Restraint, and Vision of the Ātman (आत्मदर्शन-योगोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

पजञ्चभूतगुणैहीनममूर्तिमदहेतुकम्‌ । अगुणं गुणभोक्तारं यः पश्यति स मुच्यते

Transliteration

pañcabhūtaguṇair hīnam amūrtim adahetukam | aguṇaṁ guṇabhoktāraṁ yaḥ paśyati sa mucyate ||

Translation

ଯେ ଆତ୍ମାକୁ ପଞ୍ଚଭୂତଜନ୍ୟ ଗୁଣରହିତ, ଅମୂର୍ତ୍ତ, କାରଣରହିତ ଓ ନିର୍ଗୁଣ—ତଥାପି ମାୟାସମ୍ବନ୍ଧରୁ ଗୁଣଭୋକ୍ତା ଭାବେ ପ୍ରତୀତ—ବୋଲି ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଦେଖେ, ସେ ମୁକ୍ତ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• पञ्चभूतगुणैः: by/with the qualities of the five elements
• पञ्चभूतगुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चभूतगुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हीनम्: devoid (of)
• हीनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमूर्तिम्: formless
• अमूर्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमूर्ति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अदहेतुकम्: causeless / without (material) cause
• अदहेतुकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदहेतुक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अगुणम्: without qualities (nirguṇa)
• अगुणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गुणभोक्तारम्: the experiencer/enjoyer of the guṇas
• गुणभोक्तारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणभोक्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पश्यति: sees
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मुच्यते: is liberated / is released
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Ātmanepada-form)

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (speaker)
• आत्मा (Self)
• पञ्चभूत (five elements)
• गुण (guṇas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Liberation comes from right vision: knowing the Self to be intrinsically formless and free from elemental qualities, while recognizing that its apparent enjoyment of guṇas is due to association with prakṛti/māyā. This discriminative knowledge dissolves identification with body-mind and ends bondage.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brāhmaṇa speaker delivers a philosophical instruction within the Ashvamedhika Parva, emphasizing insight into the nature of the Self. The verse functions as a concise doctrinal point: the Self is beyond material attributes, yet seems to experience them—understanding this leads to release.