Shloka 40

Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path

Ethics of Non-attachment

Devanagari script

सर्वभावानतिक्रम्य लघुमात्र: परिव्रजेत्‌ सम: सर्वेषु भूतेषु स्थावरेषु चरेषु च

Transliteration

sarvabhāvān atikramya laghumātraḥ parivrajet | samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu sthāvareṣu careṣu ca ||

Translation

ସମସ୍ତ ଭାବ ଓ ବିଷୟ ପ୍ରତି ଆସକ୍ତିକୁ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରି, ଅଳ୍ପରେ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇ ପରିବ୍ରାଜକ ଭାବେ ବିଚରଣ କରୁ। ସ୍ଥାବର ଓ ଜଙ୍ଗମ—ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀ ପ୍ରତି ସମଦୃଷ୍ଟି ରଖୁ।

Word by Word

• सर्वभावान्: all states/attachments (all dispositions)
• सर्वभावान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभाव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अतिक्रम्य: having overstepped/transcended
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• लघुमात्रः: content with little (of small measure)
• लघुमात्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघुमात्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परिव्रजेत्: should wander/roam
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-व्रज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• समः: equal, impartial
• समः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वेषु: in/among all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• भूतेषु: beings, creatures
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• स्थावरेषु: among immobile (beings)
• स्थावरेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• चरेषु: among mobile (beings)
• चरेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

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

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches vairāgya (non-attachment) and sama-darśana (equal vision): transcend clinging to all objects and mental states, live with minimal needs, and cultivate impartial goodwill toward every form of life—immobile and mobile.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is instructing the listener in a dharma-oriented discourse, presenting the ideal conduct of a wandering ascetic: moving through the world without possessiveness and without discrimination among beings.