Shloka 17

Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs

Devanagari script

निर्णयं चापि छिद्रात्मा न तं॑ वक्ष्यति तत्त्वतः । सोपहासात्मतामेति यस्माच्चैवात्मवानपि

Transliteration

nirṇayaṃ cāpi chidra-ātmā na taṃ vakṣyati tattvataḥ | sopahāsa-ātmatām eti yasmāc caivātmavān api ||

Translation

ଯାହାର ବୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ଦୋଷ ଅଛି, ସେ ଗ୍ରନ୍ଥର ସତ୍ୟ ତାତ୍ପର୍ୟକୁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଭାବେ କହିପାରେ ନାହିଁ। ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରଜ୍ଞାନର ଆଧାର ବିନା କଥା କହିଲେ, ସେ ମନସ୍ବୀ ଓ ଆତ୍ମସଂଯମୀ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଉପହାସର ପାତ୍ର ହୁଏ—କାରଣ ତାହାର ବାକ୍ୟ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱକୁ ଛୁଁଏ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• निर्णयम्: decision; correct ascertainment
• निर्णयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अपि: also; even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• छिद्रात्मा: one of flawed nature; a defective-minded person
• छिद्रात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्रात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• तम्: that (it/him)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वक्ष्यति: will say; will state
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्त्वतः: in truth; correctly; as it really is
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतस्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपहासात्मताम्: the state of being an object of ridicule
• उपहासात्मताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपहासात्मता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• एति: goes to; comes to; becomes
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यस्मात्: from which; because of which
• यस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• आत्मवान्: self-possessed; intelligent; strong-minded
• आत्मवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even; though
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Without śāstric grounding and clear discernment, one cannot determine or express the true purport (nirṇaya) of a text; speaking anyway leads to error and public ridicule, even if the speaker is otherwise confident.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vasiṣṭha is advising about proper understanding and interpretation: he cautions that a person with defective insight cannot explain the truth of a doctrine and will be mocked if he speaks beyond his knowledge.