Shloka 20
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
अन्ये चापरिमेयाश्ष ब्राह्म॒णा वनमश्रिता: । वैखानसा वालखिल्या: सैकताक्ष तथा परे
anye cāparimeyāś ca brāhmaṇā vanam āśritāḥ | vaikhānasā vālakhilyāḥ saikatākṣā tathā pare ||
Vyāsa disse: “E havia também incontáveis brāhmaṇas que haviam tomado refúgio na floresta—Vaikhānasas, Vālakhilyas e, do mesmo modo, os Saikatākṣas, além de outros.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of renunciant and disciplined life: many learned brāhmaṇas choose the forest as a place for austerity and spiritual practice, emphasizing dharma expressed through restraint, simplicity, and tapas.
Vyāsa is listing groups of sages/ascetics residing in the forest—Vaikhānasas, Vālakhilyas, Saikatākṣas, and many others—expanding the scene to show a vast presence of forest-dwelling spiritual communities.