Shloka 14

Arjuna’s request to Krishna and the opening of the Kāśyapa–Brāhmaṇa mokṣa discourse (Āśvamedhika-parva 16)

Devanagari script

यथा तां बुद्धिमास्थाय गतिमग्रयां गमिष्यसि । शृणु धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ गदितं सर्वमेव मे

Transliteration

yathā tāṁ buddhim āsthāya gatim agrayāṁ gamiṣyasi | śṛṇu dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha gaditaṁ sarvam eva me ||

Translation

ఆ సమత్వబుద్ధిని ఆశ్రయించితే నీవు పరమగతిని, శ్రేష్ఠ లక్ష్యాన్ని పొందుతావు. కాబట్టి ధర్మధారులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన అర్జునా, నేను చెప్పబోయే సమస్తాన్ని శ్రద్ధగా విను.

Word by Word

• यथा: as, in such a way that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• बुद्धिम्: understanding, intellect
• बुद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having resorted to
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (स्था)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral (gerund), having resorted to / having taken refuge in

• गतिम्: course, state, destination
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अग्रयाम्: foremost, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्र्य
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गमिष्यसि: you will go/attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शृणु: hear, listen
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धर्मभृताम्: of the upholders of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-भृत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठ: O best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• गदितम्: said, spoken
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all, the whole
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मे: of me, my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Wind-god)
• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that adopting a steady, balanced discernment (buddhi) is the means to reach the highest ‘gati’—the best path and ultimate attainment—and it frames the teaching as a dharmic instruction to be heard with full attention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses Arjuna directly, praising him as foremost among the righteous and preparing him for a fuller discourse: Arjuna is urged to listen carefully because the guidance being given is presented as the means to attain the highest goal.