Shloka 1

Brahmā’s Instruction on Brahmacarya, Vānaprastha, and the Aliṅga Path

Ethics of Non-attachment

Devanagari script

ऑपन--माज बछ। ःडिज षट्चत्वारिशो5 ध्याय: ब्रह्मचारी

Transliteration

brahmovāca—evam etena mārgeṇa pūrvoktena yathāvidhi | adhītavān yathāśakti tathaiva brahmacaryavān |

Translation

برہما نے کہا—اے مہارشیو! پہلے بیان کیے گئے راستے کے مطابق اور مقررہ قاعدے کے ساتھ اسی طرح آچرن کرنا چاہیے۔ جو مرد اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق ودیا کا ادھیयन کرے اور برہماچریہ کے ورت کو نبھائے، وہ اپنے سْودھرم میں ثابت قدم رہے؛ ودوان بنے؛ تمام اندریوں کو قابو میں رکھے؛ مُنی ورت کی پابندی کرے؛ گرو کے لیے پسندیدہ اور ہیتکار کاموں میں لگا رہے؛ سچ بولے؛ اور دھرم پرائن و پاکیزہ رہے۔

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• एतेन: by this
• एतेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, singular

• मार्गेण: by the path, by the way
• मार्गेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• पूर्वोक्तेन: by the previously stated (one)
• पूर्वोक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्वोक्त
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, singular

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• विधि: rule, prescribed manner
• विधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• अधीतवान्: has studied
• अधीतवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (अधी-)
• Form: perfect/periphrastic perfect (past), third, singular, masculine

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शक्ति: ability, capacity
• शक्ति: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

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

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

• ब्रह्मचर्यवान्: possessing brahmacarya (celibate/continent)
• ब्रह्मचर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्यवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes ashrama-dharma for a brahmacārin: study within one’s capacity, strict observance of celibate discipline, control of the senses, sage-like restraint, service that benefits the guru, truthful speech, and commitment to dharma and purity.

What is happening in the narrative?

A didactic discourse is underway in which divine authority (Brahmā, within the broader dialogue context) lays down the proper conduct for the life-stages—here focusing on the brahmacārin’s disciplined training as the foundation for righteous living.