Verse 47

Brahmavidya

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

नापुत्राय प्रदातव्यं नाशिष्याय कदाचन । गुरुदेवाय भक्ताय नित्यं भक्तिपराय च ॥ प्रदातव्यमिदं शास्त्रं नेतरेभ्यः प्रदापयेत् । दातास्य नरकं याति सिद्ध्यते न कदाचन ॥४७-४८॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

न । अपुत्राय । प्रदातव्यम् । न । अशिष्याय । कदाचन । गुरु-देवाय । भक्ताय । नित्यम् । भक्ति-पराय । च ॥ प्रदातव्यम् । इदम् । शास्त्रम् । न । इतरेभ्यः । प्रदापयेत् । दाता । अस्य । नरकम् । याति । सिद्ध्यते । न । कदाचन ॥

IAST Transliteration

nāputrāya pradātavyaṃ nāśiṣyāya kadācana | gurudevāya bhaktāya nityaṃ bhaktiparāya ca || pradātavyam idaṃ śāstraṃ netarebhyaḥ pradāpayet | dātāsya narakaṃ yāti siddhyate na kadācana ||47–48||

Translation

இந்த சாஸ்திரத்தை புத்திரமில்லாதவர்க்கும், எந்நாளும் சீடன் அல்லாதவர்க்கும் அளிக்கக் கூடாது. குருவை தெய்வமாகப் பாவித்து பக்தி செய்பவருக்கும், நித்திய பக்திப்பராயணருக்கும் மட்டுமே இதை அளிக்க வேண்டும்; பிறர்க்கு வழங்கக் கூடாது. அயோக்யர்க்கு அளிப்பவன் நரகத்திற்குச் செல்கிறான்; அவனுக்கு இது எப்போதும் सिद्धியாகாது।

Academic Translation

It is not to be given to one without a son, nor ever to a non-disciple. It is to be given to a devotee of the guru as divine, and to one always devoted to devotion. This teaching is to be given; it should not be imparted to others. The giver of this (to the unfit) goes to hell; (the teaching) is never accomplished (for him).

Verse Context

• Adhikāra (eligibility), guru-śiṣya paramparā, responsible transmission of brahma-vidyā
• Mahavakya: Frames the conditions under which mahāvākya-instruction becomes effective (śravaṇa under a qualified guru and qualified student).
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)