Shloka 17

Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणानां मतिर्वाक्यं कर्म श्रद्धां तपांसि च | धारयन्ति महीं द्यां च शैक्यो वागमृतं तथा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānāṁ matir vākyaṁ karma śraddhāṁ tapāṁsi ca | dhārayanti mahīṁ dyāṁ ca śaikyo vāg-amṛtaṁ tathā ||

Translation

Arjuna disse: “O intelecto discernente dos brâmanes, sua fala veraz, sua conduta justa, sua fé e suas austeridades sustentam a terra e até os céus. Do mesmo modo, o Śaikya (o Buda) sustenta o mundo com palavras como néctar.”

Word by Word

ब्राह्मणानाम्of the Brahmanas

मतिःintelligence, counsel

वाक्यम्speech, utterance

कर्मritual action, deed

श्रद्धाम्faith, trust

तपांसिausterities, penances

चand

धारयन्तिthey uphold, sustain

महीम्the earth

द्याम्the heaven/sky

चand

शक्यःpossible, able (to be done)

वाक्speech

अमृतम्nectar, immortality

तथाthus, likewise

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Brahmins (Brāhmaṇas)

Earth (Mahī)

Heaven/Sky (Dyauḥ)

Śaikya (Śākya/Buddha)

Nectar-like speech (Vāk-amṛta)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that society and cosmic order are sustained by inner and outer virtues—clear understanding (mati), truthful and beneficial speech (vākya), righteous conduct (karma), faith (śraddhā), and disciplined austerity (tapas). It also highlights the ethical power of ‘nectar-like’ speech to uphold and guide the world.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse on dharma and right living, Arjuna speaks in praise of the sustaining role of Brahminical virtues and, by comparison, credits the Śaikya with supporting the world through elevating, life-giving speech.