Mahabharata 3.201.108 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 108

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

बीजानि हाग्निदग्धानि न रोहन्ति पुनर्यथा । ज्ञानदग्धैस्तथा क्लेशैरनत्मा संयुज्यते पुन:

Transliteration

bījāni hāgnidagdhāni na rohanti punar yathā | jñānadagdhais tathā kleśair anātmā saṁyujyate punaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kung paanong ang mga binhing tinupok ng apoy ay hindi na muling sisibol, gayon din kapag ang mga pagdurusang-ugat—gaya ng kamangmangan—ay nasunog na ng tunay na kaalaman, ang di-Sarili (ang kabuuang isip at katawan) ay hindi na muling makikipag-ugnay sa mga iyon. Narito ang pangakong etikal ng paglaya: pinuputol ng kaalaman ang ugat ng pagdurusa upang hindi na maulit ang pagkaalipin.”

Word by Word

• बीजानि: seeds
• बीजानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• ह: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• अग्निदग्धानि: burnt by fire
• अग्निदग्धानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निदग्ध
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

• रोहन्ति: sprout / grow
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुह्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

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

• ज्ञानदग्धैः: burnt by knowledge (i.e., destroyed through knowledge)
• ज्ञानदग्धैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानदग्ध
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: so / likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• क्लेशैः: by afflictions (kleshas)
• क्लेशैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अनात्मा: the non-self (i.e., body-mind complex / not-Self)
• अनात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संयुज्यते: is joined / becomes connected
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + युज्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

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

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• seeds
• fire
• jñāna (knowledge)
• kleśa (afflictions)
• anātman (non-self)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that genuine knowledge eradicates the very seed of affliction (ignorance and its derivatives). When the root-causes are destroyed, suffering and bondage do not reappear—like fire-burnt seeds that can no longer germinate.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva’s discourse setting, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in a reflective, philosophical mode, using a vivid metaphor to explain how inner transformation through knowledge prevents the return of mental afflictions and the cycle of renewed bondage.