Shloka 22

Adhyaya 1 — Jaimini’s Questions on the Mahabharata and the Origin of the Wise Birds

Sanskrit

वेदशास्त्रार्थविज्ञाने येषामव्याहता मतिः ।

विन्ध्यकन्दरमध्यस्थास्तानुपास्य च पृच्छ च ॥

Transliteration

vedaśāstrārthavijñāne yeṣām avyāhatā matiḥ | vindhyakandaramadhyasthās tān upāsya ca pṛccha ca ||

Translation

ผู้ซึ่งปัญญาในความหมายแห่งพระเวทและศาสตราไม่ถูกกีดขวาง—พำนักอยู่ท่ามกลางถ้ำในเทือกเขาวินธยะ—ผู้คนบูชาและเข้าไปไต่ถามท่านเหล่านั้น

Word by Word

• vedaśāstrārthavijñāne: in understanding the meanings of Veda and scriptures
• vedaśāstrārthavijñāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + śāstra + artha + vijñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘वेद-शास्त्रयोः अर्थ-विज्ञाने’ (in the knowledge of the meanings of Veda and śāstra)

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive, Plural

• avyāhatā: unhindered
• avyāhatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of मतिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + vyāhata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative, Singular; negated adjective ‘unobstructed/unhindered’

• matiḥ: intellect, understanding
• matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता; of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• vindhyakandaramadhyasthāḥ: dwelling in the midst of the Vindhya caves
• vindhyakandaramadhyasthāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of तान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vindhya + kandara + madhya + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; तत्पुरुषः—‘विन्ध्य-कन्दर-मध्य-स्थाः’ (situated in the middle of the Vindhya caves)

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• upāsya: having approached/served
• upāsya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ās (आस् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त) with prefix upa-, ‘having approached/worshipped/served’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• pṛccha: ask
• pṛccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (प्रच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

Speakers

• Frame narrator/instructor addressing Jaimini (context: guidance to approach the Vindhya-dwelling wise ones
• associated with the later Dharmapakṣi dialogue)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Guru-śiṣya approach
• Śāstra-vicāra (scriptural inquiry)
• Humility and service before questioning

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Knowledge is to be sought from those with clear, unobstructed discernment of Veda and śāstra, and the proper method is twofold: upāsanā (reverent service/attendance) and praśna (earnest questioning). The verse emphasizes humility and disciplined inquiry as prerequisites for receiving true instruction.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is primarily part of the Purāṇic framing (upodghāta) and instruction on how the teaching is to be received; it is not directly one of the pañcalakṣaṇa topics (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It functions as a methodological preface enabling the later transmission of those subjects.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘Vindhya caves’ suggest hidden, inward spaces of tapas and contemplation: true śāstric meaning is not merely textual but realized in seclusion and discipline. ‘Unobstructed understanding’ (avyāhatā matiḥ) hints at purified intellect (buddhi) free from bias and distraction; ‘serve and ask’ signifies harmonizing devotion (bhakti/śraddhā) with inquiry (vicāra).