Shloka 36

Vidyā–Avidyā and the Twenty-Fifth Principle

Sāṃkhya–Yoga Clarification

Devanagari script

मानिनां कुलजातानां नित्य शास्त्रार्थचक्षुषाम्‌ । क्रियाधर्मविमुक्तानामशक्‍्त्या संवृतात्मनाम्‌,जब उत्तम कुलमें उत्पन्न, सम्मानित तथा शास्त्रके अर्थको जाननेवाले पुरुषोंका और असमर्थताके कारण कर्म-धर्मसे रहित एवं आत्मतत्त्वसे अनभिज्ञ मनुष्योंका भी किया हुआ लौकिक कर्म नष्ट हो ही जाता है, तब यही निष्कर्ष निकलता है कि जगत्‌में उनके लिये तपके सिवा दूसरा कोई सत्कर्म नहीं है

Transliteration

mānināṁ kulajātānāṁ nityaśāstrārthacakṣuṣām | kriyādharmavimuktānām aśaktyā saṁvṛtātmanām ||

Translation

मानिनां कुलजातानां नित्यं शास्त्रार्थचक्षुषाम्। क्रियाधर्मविमुक्तानामशक्त्या संवृतात्मनाम्॥

Word by Word

मानिनाम्of the self-respecting / honored (persons)

कुलजातानाम्of those born in a noble family

नित्यम्always

शास्त्रार्थचक्षुषाम्of those whose 'eyes' are the meaning of the scriptures (i.e., who see through scriptural meaning)

क्रियाधर्मविमुक्तानाम्of those freed from (or devoid of) ritual action and duty

अशक्त्याby inability / due to incapacity

संवृतात्मनाम्of those whose self is covered/veiled (i.e., with obscured understanding)

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Parāśara

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly action (laukika karma) is unstable and can be rendered fruitless even for the respected and learned, and also for those unable to perform prescribed duties; therefore disciplined austerity (tapas) is presented as the reliable ‘good practice’ that purifies and supports inner realization when ordinary action cannot secure lasting good.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation-oriented conduct, the sage Parāśara addresses the limits of social status, learning, and ritual performance, arguing that when action is compromised—by circumstance, incapacity, or inner obscuration—tapas becomes the principal means of ethical and spiritual uplift.