Shloka 6

Brahmopadeśa: Ahiṃsā, Jñāna, and the Kṣetrajña–Sattva Analysis

Chapter 49

Devanagari script

अस्नानं केचिदिच्छन्ति स्नानमप्यपरे जना: | मन्यन्ते ब्राह्मणा देवा ब्रद्वाज्ञास्तत्त्वदर्शिन:

Transliteration

asnānaṃ kecid icchanti snānam apy apare janāḥ | manyante brāhmaṇā devā bhāradvājñās tattvadarśinaḥ ||

Translation

କେହି କେହି ସ୍ନାନ କରିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ, ଆଉ କେହି କେହି ସ୍ନାନକୁ ହିଁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି ଧରନ୍ତି। ଭାରଦ୍ୱାଜ ପରମ୍ପରାର ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରଜ୍ଞ, ତତ୍ତ୍ୱଦର୍ଶୀ, ଦେବତୁଲ୍ୟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ସ୍ନାନକୁ ହିଁ ଉତ୍ତମ ପଥ ବୋଲି ମନନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• अस्नानम्: non-bathing
• अस्नानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्नान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क-चिद् (प्रातिपदिक: केचित्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इच्छन्ति: desire / want
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (इच्छ्)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also / even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मन्यन्ते: think / consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवाः: gods / divine ones
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्मज्ञाः: knowers of Brahman
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्त्वदर्शिनः: seers of reality / truth-seeing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्वदर्शिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Brāhmaṇas
• Bhāradvāja (lineage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Practices differ—some reject bathing, others uphold it—but the verse highlights the normative authority of learned, truth-seeing Brahmins who regard bathing (snāna) as the better discipline, implying the ethical value of cleanliness and regulated conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva contrasts opposing attitudes toward bathing and then cites the judgment of authoritative Brahmins (linked with the Bhāradvāja tradition) to establish that bathing is considered superior within the dharmic framework being discussed.