Shloka 41

Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारी विनीतात्मा जटिलो बहुला: समा: । अवसं सुचिरं तत्र गुरुशुश्रूषणे रत:,वहाँ मैं विनीत हृदयसे ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन करते हुए सिरपर जटा धारण किये बहुत वर्षोतक रहा। गुरुकी सेवामें निरन्तर संलग्न रहकर मैंने दीर्घकालतक उनके आश्रममें निवास किया

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | brahmacārī vinītātmā jaṭilo bahulāḥ samāḥ | avasaṃ suciraṃ tatra guruśuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana disse: Vivendo como um brahmacārin disciplinado, humilde de espírito e com os cabelos em mechas emaranhadas, permaneci ali por muitos anos. Devotado ao serviço do meu mestre, habitei por longo tempo no seu eremitério, constante na assistência e na obediência.

Word by Word

ब्रह्मचारीa brahmacārin (celibate student)

विनीतात्माone whose self is disciplined

जटिलःwearing matted hair

बहुलाःmany, numerous

समाःyears

अवसम्I dwelt, I lived

सुचिरम्for a long time

तत्रthere

गुरु-शुश्रूषणेin service to the teacher

रतःengaged, devoted

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

guru (teacher)

āśrama (hermitage)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds brahmacarya and guru-sevā as foundational disciplines: humility, self-restraint, and long-term dedicated service to one’s teacher are presented as the ethical basis for learning and inner formation.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker (Vaiśampāyana) describes his own period of student life: he lived for many years in the teacher’s hermitage, observing celibacy and ascetic discipline, and remained continually engaged in serving and attending upon his guru.