Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शान्तिकं पौष्टिक॑ रक्षा शत्रुघ्न भयनाशनम्‌ | जप्यं यद्‌ ब्रह्म॒समितं तद्‌ भवान्‌ वक्तुमहति

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | śāntikaṁ pauṣṭikaṁ rakṣā śatrughnaṁ bhayanāśanam | japyaṁ yad brahmasammitaṁ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||

Translation

یُدھشٹھِر نے کہا—وہ کون سا جپ کرنے کے لائق منتر ہے جو شانتی، پُشتی، حفاظت، دشمنوں کا قلع قمع اور خوف کا ازالہ کرے—اور جو وید کے برابر معزز سمجھا جاتا ہو؟ مہربانی فرما کر اسے بیان کیجیے۔

Word by Word

• शान्तिकम्: peace-giving (thing/mantra)
• शान्तिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्तिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पौष्टिकम्: nourishing, promoting prosperity
• पौष्टिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौष्टिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शत्रुघ्नम्: enemy-destroying
• शत्रुघ्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुघ्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भयनाशनम्: fear-dispelling
• भयनाशनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयनाशन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जप्यम्: to be recited (as japa)
• जप्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मसमितम्: approved/attested by Brahman (i.e., Veda-like, authoritative)
• ब्रह्मसमितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मसमित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वक्तुम्: to tell, to speak
• वक्तुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• अर्हति: is worthy/ought (to)
• अर्हति: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames mantra-recitation (japa) as a dharmic means to cultivate peace, welfare, protection, and fearlessness, and it emphasizes that such a practice should be grounded in Vedic authority (brahmasammita), not merely personal preference.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions an elder/teacher, requesting instruction about a revered, Veda-sanctioned mantra whose recitation is said to confer peace, prosperity, protection, victory over enemies, and the removal of fear.