Shloka 21

Adhyāya 240: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman — The Inner Hierarchy and Restraint (इन्द्रिय-मनस्-बुद्धि-आत्म-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

त॑ पश्यन्ति महात्मानो ब्राह्मणा ये मनीषिण: । धृतिमन्तो महाप्राज्ञा: सर्वभूतहिते रता:

Transliteration

taṁ paśyanti mahātmāno brāhmaṇā ye manīṣiṇaḥ | dhṛtimanto mahāprājñāḥ sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ | sattvasaṁsevanād dhīro nidrām ucchettum arhati |

Translation

ସେଇ (ପରମାତ୍ମା)ଙ୍କୁ ମାତ୍ର ସେହି ମହାତ୍ମା ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ଦେଖନ୍ତି, ଯେମାନେ ମନୀଷୀ—ଧୃତିବାନ, ମହାପ୍ରାଜ୍ଞ ଏବଂ ସର୍ବଭୂତହିତେ ରତ। ସତ୍ତ୍ୱସେବନରେ ଧୀର ପୁରୁଷ ନିଦ୍ରା (ତମସ) କୁ ଛେଦ କରିବାର ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ହୁଏ; ଅନ୍ତର୍ଜୟ—ସ୍ୱଭାବଶୁଦ୍ଧି ଓ ମନୋନିଗ୍ରହ—ଦ୍ୱାରା ସର୍ବବ୍ୟାପୀ ଆତ୍ମାର ସାକ୍ଷାତ୍କାର ସମ୍ଭବ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (Supreme Self)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पश्यन्ति: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• ये: who
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मनीषिणः: wise ones, sages
• मनीषिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धृतिमन्तः: steadfast, possessing fortitude
• धृतिमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महाप्राज्ञाः: of great wisdom
• महाप्राज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वभूतहिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूतहित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रताः: engaged, devoted
• रताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्त्वसंसेवनात्: from/through the practice of sattva (purity)
• सत्त्वसंसेवनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्वसंसेवन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• धीरः: the steadfast man
• धीरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उच्छेत्तुम्: to cut off, to eliminate
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-छिद्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हति: is able/fit, deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• brāhmaṇas (as a class of sages/seekers)
• Paramātman/Ātman (implied by taṁ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vision of the Supreme Self is attained by sages who combine discernment (manīṣā), steadfast self-control (dhṛti), great wisdom, and active commitment to the welfare of all beings; cultivating sattva supports wakeful clarity by overcoming torpor (nidrā).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa is describing the qualifications of those who can ‘see’ the Supreme Reality: they are wise brāhmaṇas devoted to universal good, and through sattvic discipline they overcome dullness and maintain the inner clarity needed for realization.