Shloka 14

Bhūta-guṇa-saṃkhyāna

Enumeration of the Properties of the Elements and Cognitive Faculties

Devanagari script

न चात्मा शक्‍्यते द्रष्टमिन्द्रिये: कामगोचरै: । प्रवर्तमानैरनये दुष्करैरकृतात्मभि:

Transliteration

na cātmā śakyate draṣṭum indriyaiḥ kāmagocaraiḥ | pravartamānair anaye duṣkarair akṛtātmabhiḥ ||

Translation

ବ୍ୟାସ କହିଲେ—ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟମାନେ କାମନାର ଗୋଚରରେ ଚଳନ କରନ୍ତି; ତେଣୁ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟଦ୍ୱାରା ଆତ୍ମାଙ୍କୁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଦେଖିବା ସମ୍ଭବ ନୁହେଁ। ସେମାନେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଭ୍ରାନ୍ତିର ପଥରେ ଧାଉଛନ୍ତି—ଚଞ୍ଚଳ, ଦମନ କରିବାକୁ କଠିନ—ବିଶେଷକରି ଅସଂୟମୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ, ଅନ୍ତଃସତ୍ୟର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ଅନୁଭବ ଅସମ୍ଭବ ହୋଇଯାଏ।

Word by Word

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

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

• आत्मा: the self
• आत्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्यते: is able / can be
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• इन्द्रियैः: by the senses
• इन्द्रियैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कामगोचरैः: moving in the range of desires (sense-objects)
• कामगोचरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-गोचर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रवर्तमानैः: operating / being engaged
• प्रवर्तमानैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर्तमान
• Form: Shatr (present active participle), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अनये: by those that lead astray / improper
• अनये: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-नी
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• दुष्करैः: hard to control / difficult
• दुष्करैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्कर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अकृतात्मभिः: by the undisciplined (uncontrolled) persons
• अकृतात्मभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकृत-आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Ātman (Self)
• Indriyas (senses)
• Kāma (desire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Self-knowledge is not attained through sense-driven experience, because the senses naturally chase desire and can lead one into error. Therefore, discipline (self-mastery and restraint of the senses) is presented as a prerequisite for perceiving the Ātman.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers instruction on inner discipline and the limits of sensory cognition, emphasizing that those lacking self-control (akṛtātmā) cannot gain direct insight into the Self while the senses remain active in desire’s domain.