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Shloka 120

Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)

वेदा न प्रतिभान्ति सम ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्‌ | देवान्‌ रजस्तमश्वैव समाविविशतुस्तदा,पवित्रात्मा ऋषियोंको वेदोंका स्मरण नहीं हो पाता था। उस समय देवताओंमें रजोगुण और तमोगुणका आवेश हो गया था

vedā na pratibhānti sama ṛṣīṇāṁ bhāvitātmanām | devān rajastamaś caiva samāviviśatus tadā ||

แม้ในจิตของฤๅษีผู้ขัดเกลาตนแล้ว พระเวทก็มิได้ปรากฏแจ่มชัด ครั้นนั้นเอง รชัสและตมัสได้แทรกซึมเข้าครอบงำเหล่าเทพทั้งหลาย

vedāḥthe Vedas
vedāḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootveda
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
pratibhāntishine forth / become manifest (to the mind)
pratibhānti:
TypeVerb
Rootpratibhā (dhātu: bhā, with prati-)
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
samamequally / uniformly
samam:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootsama
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ṛṣīṇāmof the sages
ṛṣīṇām:
TypeNoun
Rootṛṣi
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
bhāvitātmanāmof those whose selves are purified/discipined
bhāvitātmanām:
TypeAdjective
Rootbhāvitātman
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
devānthe gods
devān:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootdeva
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
rajasrajas (passion)
rajas:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootrajas
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
tamastamas (darkness/inertia)
tamas:
Karta
TypeNoun
Roottamas
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
evaindeed
eva:
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva
samāviviśatuḥentered/possessed (them) together
samāviviśatuḥ:
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-viś (dhātu: viś)
FormPerfect, Third, Dual, Parasmaipada
tadāthen
tadā:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā

अर्जुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
V
Vedas
R
Rishis (sages)
D
Devas (gods)
R
Rajas
T
Tamas

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that when rajas (agitation) and tamas (delusion) dominate, clarity of sacred knowledge is veiled—even for disciplined sages—and the moral-spiritual order symbolized by the gods becomes disturbed. Ethical discernment depends on inner purity and the predominance of sattva.

Arjuna describes a time of decline or imbalance: sages cannot readily recall or apprehend the Vedas, and simultaneously the gods are said to be seized by rajas and tamas. This depicts a broader cosmic and moral disarray where guidance and memory of dharma are obscured.