Shloka 773

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

रजसा तमसा चैव मानसं समभिप्लुतम्‌ | ऐसा पुरुष जब जन्म लेता है

Transliteration

rajasā tamasā caiva mānasaṃ samabhiplutam |

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Ang isipan ay lubusang nilulunod ng rajas at tamas.” Sa diwang etikal, ito’y tumutukoy sa taong ang panloob na buhay ay pinatatakbo ng pagnanasa, pagkabalisa, at kamangmangan, kaya natatakpan ang malinaw na paghatol at ang asal ay kumikiling sa panlabas na pagkilos at bugso ng damdamin sa halip na kaliwanagan at pagpipigil.

Word by Word

• रजसा: by/with rajas (the quality of activity)
• रजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तमसा: by/with tamas (the quality of darkness/inertia)
• तमसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मानसम्: mind
• मानसम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• समभिप्लुतम्: flooded/overwhelmed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अभि-प्लु (क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That when rajas (passionate agitation) and tamas (deluded inertia) dominate the mind, inner clarity is submerged; ethical life then requires recognizing these forces and cultivating sattva (lucidity) through discipline, right understanding, and self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana is describing a psychological-ethical condition within the Śānti Parva’s instruction: the mind of a certain type of person is portrayed as overwhelmed by the lower guṇas, setting the stage for guidance about conduct and the paths of action and restraint.