Shloka 20

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

अखिल दैवतं सर्व ब्रह्म ब्रह्मणि संश्रितम्‌

Transliteration

akhila-daivataṁ sarvaṁ brahma brahmaṇi saṁśritam

Translation

ଚୂଳାଧାର ଘୋଷଣା କରନ୍ତି—ସମସ୍ତ ଦେବତା ସମଗ୍ରରୂପେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ହିଁ; ଏହି ସମସ୍ତ ଦୈବୀ ବହୁତ୍ୱ ଶେଷେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମରେ ହିଁ ଆଶ୍ରିତ—ସେ ଶ୍ରୋତାକୁ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟିକ ଭେଦରୁ ହଟାଇ, ଏକତ୍ୱାଧାରିତ ନୈତିକ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିକୁ ଦର୍ଶାନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• अखिलम्: entire, whole
• अखिलम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दैवतं: divinity; deity (collectively)
• दैवतं: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ब्रह्म: Brahman; the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ब्रह्मणि: in Brahman
• ब्रह्मणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• संश्रितम्: resting upon; dependent on; resorted to
• संश्रितम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-श्रि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• all deities (akhila-daivata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches theological and ethical integration: the many gods are expressions of one Brahman, and their reality is grounded in Brahman. This supports a non-sectarian outlook and encourages dharmic conduct based on seeing a single underlying reality rather than competing divine factions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Chūlādhāra is instructing his interlocutor by articulating a metaphysical principle: the entire pantheon is encompassed by Brahman and depends upon Brahman, reframing devotion and duty within a unified vision of the Absolute.