Shloka 27

मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः

Determination of the Means to Liberation

Devanagari script

आत्मानमसमाधाय समाधित्सति यः परान्‌ | विषयेष्विन्द्रियवशं मानवा: प्रहसन्ति तम्‌

Transliteration

ātmānam asamādhāya samādhitsati yaḥ parān | viṣayeṣv indriyavaśaṃ mānavāḥ prahasanti tam ||

Translation

ହୁମତ୍ସେନ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ନିଜକୁ ନିଜେ ସଂଯମ କରିପାରିନାହିଁ, ଯାହାର ଚିତ୍ତ ଅସ୍ଥିର, ଏବଂ ଯେ ବିଷୟଭୋଗରେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟଦାସ—ସେ ଯଦି ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂଯମ ଓ ସଦାଚାର ଶିଖାଇବାକୁ ଯାଏ, ଲୋକେ ତାକୁ ହସି ଉଡ଼ାନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: self
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• असमाधाय: without composing (his mind/self)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-धा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), not having composed/collected

• समाधित्सति: wishes/intends to compose (to discipline)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (इच्छार्थे: समाधित्स्)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, लट्

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परान्: others
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विषयेषु: in sense-objects
• विषयेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• इन्द्रियवशम्: under the control of the senses
• इन्द्रियवशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रिय-वश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मानवाः: people
• मानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रहसन्ति: laugh at / ridicule
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, लट्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

हुमत्सेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• हुमत्सेन (Humatsena)
• माणवाः (people/men)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Moral instruction gains authority only when grounded in personal discipline. One who is ruled by sense-pleasures and lacks inner composure cannot credibly teach restraint or dharma; such preaching invites ridicule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Humatsena is offering an ethical observation within the Shanti Parva’s didactic discourse: he contrasts outward preaching with inward mastery, warning that a person (especially a ruler) who cannot govern himself cannot effectively guide others.