Shloka 3

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

वाड्मनोभ्यां शरीरेण शुचि: स्यथादनहंकृत: । प्रशान्तो ज्ञानवान्‌ भिक्षुर्निरिपेक्षश्वरेत्‌ सुखम्‌

Transliteration

vāḍmanobhyāṁ śarīreṇa śuciḥ syād anahaṅkṛtaḥ | praśānto jñānavān bhikṣur nirapekṣaś caret sukham ||

Translation

ଭିକ୍ଷୁ ବାଣୀ, ମନ ଓ ଶରୀରରେ ଶୁଚି ହେଉ; ଅହଂକାରଶୂନ୍ୟ, ପ୍ରଶାନ୍ତଚିତ୍ତ ଏବଂ ଜ୍ଞାନବାନ୍ ହେଉ। ସେ ନିଃସ୍ପୃହ ଓ ନିରପେକ୍ଷ ରହି, ଭିକ୍ଷାବୃତ୍ତିରେ ଜୀବନ ଧାରଣ କରି ସୁଖରେ ବିଚରଣ କରୁ।

Word by Word

• वाक्: by speech
• वाक्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शरीरेण: by body
• शरीरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अदनहंकृतः: free from egoism
• अदनहंकृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनहंकृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशान्तः: calm, tranquil
• प्रशान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ज्ञानवान्: possessing knowledge
• ज्ञानवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भिक्षुः: a mendicant
• भिक्षुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निरपेक्षः: without expectation, indifferent
• निरपेक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरपेक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चरेत्: should wander/live
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुखम्: happily / with ease
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• bhikṣu (mendicant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse prescribes the ethical discipline of a renunciant: purity in thought, word, and deed; absence of ego; calmness and discernment; non-dependence and non-craving; and a simple livelihood through alms, leading to contented living.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he outlines the ideal comportment of a bhikṣu—how such a person should live and sustain himself while cultivating inner purity and peace.