Shloka 6

Ātma-saṃyama-dharma: One-pointedness of Mind and Senses (शुक–व्यास संवादः)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचर्येण वै लोकान्‌ जयन्ति परमर्षय: । आत्मनश्व ततः श्रेयांस्यन्विच्छन्‌ मनसा55त्मनि

Transliteration

brahmacaryeṇa vai lokān jayanti paramarṣayaḥ | ātmanaś ca tataḥ śreyāṃsy anvicchan manasā ātmani ||

Translation

బ్రహ్మచర్యంతో పరమర్షులు లోకాలను జయిస్తారు; ఆ తరువాత ఆత్మకు పరమ శ్రేయస్సును కోరుతూ, ఆత్మలో స్థిరమైన మనస్సుతో, అంతరంగంలోనే అన్వేషిస్తారు।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचर्येण: by celibacy / by brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्येण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जयन्ति: conquer / win
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: Present, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Plural

• परमर्षयः: the great sages
• परमर्षयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आत्मनः: of the self
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ततः: then / thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• श्रेयांसि: higher goods / better states
• श्रेयांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking / pursuing
• अन्विच्छन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इष्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• आत्मनि: in the self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• paramarṣis (supreme sages)
• lokas (worlds/realms)
• ātman (Self)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Brahmacarya—understood as rigorous restraint and purity of conduct—gives sages mastery over worldly and spiritual attainments; but its higher purpose is inward: turning the mind within to seek the supreme good (śreyas) through self-inquiry centered on the ātman.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic flow of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa is presenting an ascetic-ethical principle: the great sages, through disciplined brahmacarya, gain ‘victory over the worlds’ and then proceed to the deeper quest—seeking ultimate welfare by directing the mind inward toward the Self.