Shloka 9

Devanagari script

आर्जवेणैव गन्तव्यं न सुखान्वेषिणा तथा । नान्वेष्टव्या विशेषास्तु विशेषा हि प्रसज्धिन:,“सरलभावसे ही यात्रा करनी चाहिये। रास्तेमें सुख और सुविधाकी खोज नहीं करनी चाहिये। विशेष-विशेष व्यक्तियों अथवा स्थानोंका अनुसंधान न करना; क्योंकि इससे उनके प्रति आसक्ति हो जाती है

Transliteration

ārjavenaiva gantavyaṃ na sukhānveṣiṇā tathā | nānveṣṭavyā viśeṣās tu viśeṣā hi prasaṅginaḥ ||

Translation

आर्जवेणैव गन्तव्यं न सुखान्वेषिणा तथा। नान्वेष्टव्या विशेषास्तु विशेषा हि प्रसञ्जिनः॥

Word by Word

आर्जवेणby straightforwardness

एवindeed/only

गन्तव्यम्should be gone/one should proceed

नnot

सुखcomforts/pleasures

अन्वेषिणाby one who seeks

तथाthus/in that way

नnot

अन्वेष्टव्याःshould not be sought

विशेषाःparticularities/special objects (special persons/places)

तुbut/indeed

विशेषाःspecial objects/particulars

हिfor/indeed

प्रसक्तिनःof attachment

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain simplicity and straightforward conduct while pursuing one’s path or duty; do not chase comforts or ‘special’ experiences, because such pursuits tend to generate attachment and bondage.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he gives practical guidance: travel/live with plainness and avoid seeking exceptional pleasures or associations that foster clinging.