Shloka 14

Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna

Devanagari script

निन्दाप्रशंसे चात्यर्थ न वदन्ति परस्य ये । न च निन्दाप्रशंसाभ्यां विक्रियन्ते कदाचन

Transliteration

nindāpraśaṃse cātyarthaṃ na vadanti parasya ye | na ca nindāpraśaṃsābhyāṃ vikriyante kadācana ||

Translation

Wika ni Jaigiṣavya: Yaong hindi nagsasalita tungkol sa kapwa sa labis na paninisi o labis na papuri—at yaong hindi kailanman nayayanig sa loob ng puso sa anumang puna o papuri na ibinabato sa kanila—ay nananatiling matatag sa pagkatao. Ang lakas ng kanilang asal-dharma ay nasa pagpipigil ng pananalita at sa pagkakapantay ng isip, hindi tinatablan ng pagsang-ayon o pagtutol ng lipunan.

Word by Word

• निन्दा: censure, blame
• निन्दा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशंसे: in (matters of) praise (and blame)
• प्रशंसे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशंसा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Dual

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively, too much
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ

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

• वदन्ति: they speak/say
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परस्य: of another (person)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निन्दा-प्रशंसाभ्याम्: by blame and praise
• निन्दा-प्रशंसाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा + प्रशंसा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Dual

• विक्रियन्ते: they are altered/perturbed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + कृ
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

Speaker

जैगीषव्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Jaigiṣavya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not indulge in extreme criticism or flattery of others, and do not let praise or blame directed at you disturb the mind; steadiness and restraint are marks of ethical maturity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Jaigiṣavya describes the conduct of the self-possessed: measured speech about others and unwavering composure when judged by society.