Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 12

Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

सर्वैरपि गुणैरविंद्वान्‌ व्यतिषक्तो न लिप्यते | जलबिन्दुर्यथा लोल: पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थित:

Transliteration

sarvair api guṇair avindvān vyatiṣakto na lipyate | jalabindur yathā lolaḥ padminīpatrasaṁsthitaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Vāyu-deva: Kahit ang tao’y napalilibutan at nahahabi sa sari-saring katangian at kalagayan, kung siya’y nananatiling hindi nakakapit, hindi siya nadudungisan ng mga iyon. Gaya ng nanginginig na patak ng tubig na nakapatong sa dahon ng lotus at hindi dumikit, gayon din ang marurunong: namumuhay sa daigdig nang hindi nadadapuan ng dungis ng mga pakikisalamuha nito.

Word by Word

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• गुणैः: qualities/virtues
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अविन्द्वान्: not learned, not wise
• अविन्द्वान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविद्वस् (विद्वस्) / √विद् (to know)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्यतिषक्तः: entangled/attached (amid them)
• व्यतिषक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यतिषक्त (ppp of √सञ्ज्/√सज् with vi-ati-; 'entangled/attached')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• लिप्यते: is tainted/defiled
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लिप् (to smear, taint)
• Form: Present, Passive (Ātmanepada form), 3rd, Singular

• जलबिन्दुः: a drop of water
• जलबिन्दुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलबिन्दु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as/just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• लोलः: trembling/unsteady
• लोलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थितः: situated on a lotus-leaf
• पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थितः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थित (ppp of सम्-√स्था 'to stand/be situated')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)
• जलबिन्दु (water-drop)
• पद्मिनीपत्र (lotus leaf)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should live amidst the guṇas and worldly contacts without inner clinging; true freedom is to remain unstained—like water on a lotus leaf—by practicing non-attachment and self-governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva instructs through a vivid simile: although a person may be surrounded by many influences and qualities, he need not be morally or spiritually tainted if he does not grasp or identify with them.