Shloka 31

Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma

Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins

Devanagari script

ततो<5पश्यत चीराणि सूक्ष्माणि द्विजसत्तम: । पार्श्वतो5 भ्याशतो न्यस्तान्यथ निर्वेदमागत:ः

Transliteration

tato 'paśyata cīrāṇi sūkṣmāṇi dvijasattamaḥ | pārśvato 'bhyāśato nyastāny atha nirvedam āgataḥ ||

Translation

ତାପରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ନିଜ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱରେ ସମୀପରେ ରଖାଯାଇଥିବା ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଚୀରବସ୍ତ୍ର ଦେଖିଲେ। ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଦେଖି ତାଙ୍କ ମନରେ ବୈରାଗ୍ୟ ଓ ସଂସାର ପ୍ରତି କ୍ଲାନ୍ତି ଜାଗ୍ରତ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from there/then')

• अपश्यत्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person singular

• चीराणि: rags; bark-garments/cloths
• चीराणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीर
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• सूक्ष्माणि: fine; thin
• सूक्ष्माणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural (agreeing with चीराणि)

• द्विजसत्तमः: the best of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजसत्तम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पार्श्वतः: at the side; to the side
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्श्वतः
• Form: indeclinable (adverb)

• अभ्याशतः: nearby; in proximity
• अभ्याशतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभ्याशतः
• Form: indeclinable (adverb)

• न्यस्तानि: placed; laid down
• न्यस्तानि: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-स्था
• Form: past passive participle (क्त), neuter, accusative, plural (agreeing with चीराणि)

• अथ: then; and then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: indeclinable

• निर्वेदम्: disgust; dispassion; despondency
• निर्वेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वेद
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आगतः: having come to; having attained
• आगतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: past active participle (क्त), masculine, nominative, singular (agreeing with द्विजसत्तमः)

Speaker

मणिभद्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• मणिभद्र (Maṇibhadra)
• dvijasattama (an eminent Brahmin)
• cīra (bark-garments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a simple sign of ascetic life (bark-garments) can awaken nirveda—disenchantment with worldly attachments—suggesting that ethical clarity and inner freedom often begin with recognizing the impermanence and insufficiency of external pursuits.

What is happening in the narrative?

Maṇibhadra describes a moment where an eminent Brahmin sees fine bark-garments laid nearby; the sight triggers a shift in his inner state, and he becomes filled with dispassion, indicating a turn toward renunciation or a more austere, dharmic path.