Shloka 30

परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269

Devanagari script

चतुर्थोपनिषद्‌ धर्म: साधारण इति स्मृति: । संसिद्धै: साध्यते नित्यं ब्राह्मणैर्नियतात्मभि:

Transliteration

caturthopaniṣad dharmaḥ sādhāraṇa iti smṛtiḥ | saṃsiddhaiḥ sādhyate nityaṃ brāhmaṇair niyatātmabhiḥ ||

Translation

କପିଳ କହିଲେ—ତୁରୀୟ ବ୍ରହ୍ମସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀ ଉପନିଷଦୀୟ ସାକ୍ଷାତ୍କାର ସହିତ ଯୋଡ଼ା ଯେ ଶାସନ, ସ୍ମୃତି ଅନୁସାରେ ସେ ଏକ ସାଧାରଣ (ସର୍ବସାଧାରଣ) ଧର୍ମ। କିନ୍ତୁ ତାହା ନିତ୍ୟ ନିଶ୍ଚଳଭାବେ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ କେବଳ ସେହି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା, ଯେମାନେ ଆତ୍ମସଂଯମୀ, ତପସ୍ୟାରେ ସିଦ୍ଧ ଏବଂ ବ୍ରହ୍ମନିଷ୍ଠ; ସେମାନେ ମାତ୍ର ଏହି ପଥକୁ ସତତ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରି ପୂରଣ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• चतुर्थोपनिषद्: the fourth Upaniṣad (i.e., the Upaniṣadic knowledge connected with the fourth state)
• चतुर्थोपनिषद्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ-उपनिषद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma; discipline
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• साधारणः: common (to all)
• साधारणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधारण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• स्मृतिः: Smṛti (traditional law-text); tradition
• स्मृतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• संसिद्धैः: by the fully accomplished (ones)
• संसिद्धैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसिद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• साध्यते: is practiced; is accomplished
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Ātmanepada-form)

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• ब्राह्मणैः: by Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नियतात्मभिः: by those of restrained self
• नियतात्मभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत-आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

कपिल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Smṛti
• Brahmanas
• Brahman (turiya-related realization)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Upaniṣadic realization (turiya/Brahman-oriented knowledge) is presented as a universal dharma in principle, but in practice it is consistently attainable only by those who have strong self-restraint and spiritual maturity—disciplined aspirants perfected by tapas and steadiness of mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instructional dialogue, Kapila is explaining a hierarchy of spiritual practice: although the highest contemplative discipline is said to be ‘common’ to all, its sustained observance and fruition require exceptional inner control and accomplished ascetic-spiritual preparation.