Shloka 40

Sanatsujāta-Āhvāna (Summoning Sanatsujāta) — Vidura’s Invocation and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Doubt

Devanagari script

सर्वान्‌ स्विष्टकृतो देवान्‌ विद्याद्‌ य इह कश्नन । न समानो ब्राह्मणस्य तस्मिन्‌ प्रयतते स्वयम्‌

Transliteration

sarvān sviṣṭakṛto devān vidyād ya iha kaścana | na samāno brāhmaṇasya tasmin prayatate svayam ||

Translation

ఈ లోకంలో ఎవడైనా ఇష్టసిద్ధి కలిగించే సమస్త దేవతలను తెలిసికొన్నా, అతడు బ్రహ్మవేత్త బ్రాహ్మణునితో సమానుడు కాడు; ఎందుకంటే అతడు కోరుకున్న ఫలసిద్ధికోసమే ప్రయత్నిస్తున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स्विष्टकृतः: wish-fulfilling
• स्विष्टकृतः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्विष्टकृत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विद्यात्: might know / should know
• विद्यात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• कश्चन: someone, anyone
• कश्चन: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• समानः: equal
• समानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a brahmin / of the knower of Brahman (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तस्मिन्: in that (respect) / in him
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रयतते: strives, makes effort
• प्रयतते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (प्र + यत्)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• स्वयम्: by oneself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

Speaker

सनत्युजात उवाच

Characters & Entities

• सनत्युजात (Sanatsujāta)
• देवाः (the gods/deities)
• ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa / Brahman-knower)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Knowledge aimed at securing desired outcomes—even if it includes knowing all wish-fulfilling deities—remains inferior to Brahma-knowledge. The verse contrasts goal-oriented striving for results with the higher realization of Brahman, which transcends desire-based attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Sanatsujātīya section of the Udyoga Parva, Sanatsujāta instructs (in a philosophical discourse) on the superiority of spiritual realization over ritualistic or result-seeking religiosity, emphasizing the primacy of Brahman-realization.