Shloka 20

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

अखिल दैवतं सर्व ब्रह्म ब्रह्मणि संश्रितम्‌

Transliteration

akhila-daivataṁ sarvaṁ brahma brahmaṇi saṁśritam

Translation

చూలాధారుడు ప్రకటిస్తున్నాడు—సమస్త దేవతలు సమగ్రంగా బ్రహ్మమే; ఈ దైవ వైవిధ్యమంతా చివరికి బ్రహ్మలోనే ఆశ్రయించియున్నది—అతడు శ్రోతను పంథా-విభేదాల నుండి దూరం చేసి, ఏకత్వాధారిత నైతిక దృష్టికి దారితీస్తాడు।

Word by Word

अखिलम्entire, whole

दैवतंdivinity; deity (collectively)

सर्वम्all

ब्रह्मBrahman; the Absolute

ब्रह्मणिin Brahman

संश्रितम्resting upon; dependent on; resorted to

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

Brahman

all deities (akhila-daivata)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches theological and ethical integration: the many gods are expressions of one Brahman, and their reality is grounded in Brahman. This supports a non-sectarian outlook and encourages dharmic conduct based on seeing a single underlying reality rather than competing divine factions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Chūlādhāra is instructing his interlocutor by articulating a metaphysical principle: the entire pantheon is encompassed by Brahman and depends upon Brahman, reframing devotion and duty within a unified vision of the Absolute.