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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 ||

Sabi ni Arjuna: “Maging ang mga Veda ay hindi na luminaw sa isipan ng mga rishi na dalisay at disiplinado ang sarili. Noong sandaling iyon, pumasok at nanaig din sa mga diyos ang rajas at tamas.”

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.