Shloka 16

Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method

Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मतन्त्रस्थास्तपस्तेषां न नश्यति । ब्रह्म धारयतां नित्य॑ं व्रतानि नियमांस्तथा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇā brahmatantrasthās tapas teṣāṃ na naśyati | brahma dhārayatāṃ nityaṃ vratāni niyamāṃs tathā ||

Translation

ଭରଦ୍ୱାଜ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ବେଦବିଧିର ଆଜ୍ଞା ଅଧୀନରେ କର୍ମ କରନ୍ତି, ବ୍ରହ୍ମକୁ ନିତ୍ୟ ସ୍ମରଣ-ଜପରେ ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ବ୍ରତ ଓ ନିୟମକୁ ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବେ ପାଳନ କରନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କର ତପସ୍ୟାର ଫଳ କେବେ ନଷ୍ଟ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ; କାରଣ ତାହା ସଦାଚାର ଓ ଧର୍ମନିଷ୍ଠାରେ ମୂଳିତ।

Word by Word

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

• ब्रह्मतन्त्रस्थाः: situated in/abiding by the Brahma-śāstra (Vedic discipline)
• ब्रह्मतन्त्रस्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मतन्त्रस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• नश्यति: perishes, is destroyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Veda (sacred knowledge)
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धारयताम्: of those who hold/retain (in mind)
• धारयताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: धारयत्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• व्रतानि: vows, observances
• व्रतानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• नियमान्: rules, restraints
• नियमान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भरद्वाज उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bharadvāja
• brāhmaṇas
• Brahman
• Vedic injunctions (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Austerity bears lasting fruit when it is grounded in Brahman/Vedic discipline—i.e., when one lives under scriptural guidance, maintains constant remembrance/holding of Brahman, and practices vows (vrata) and restraints (niyama). Such tapas is not wasted or destroyed.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Bharadvāja states a principle about spiritual practice: brāhmaṇas who remain firmly established in Vedic-spiritual discipline and consistent observances retain the enduring merit of their austerities.