Shloka 25

Sanatsujāta–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Saṃvāda: Pramāda as Mṛtyu

Chapter 42

Devanagari script

अपस्मारश्नातिवादस्तथा सम्भावना55त्मनि । एतैविंमुक्तो दोषैर्य: स दान्त: सद्धिरुच्यते

Transliteration

apasmāraś cātivādas tathā sambhāvanā ātmani | etair vimukto doṣair yaḥ sa dāntaḥ sādubhir ucyate ||

Translation

سنَتسُجات کہتا ہے—اپسمار (ذہنی انتشار/فراموشی)، اَتیواد (حد سے بڑھی ہوئی جھگڑالو گفتگو)، اور خودپسندی—ان عیوب سے جو آزاد ہو، وہی ‘دانت’ یعنی نفس پر قابو رکھنے والا ہے؛ نیک لوگ اسی کو باوقار و باضبط مانتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

अपस्मारःforgetfulness/mental lapse

नातिवादःnot speaking excessively (absence of over-argument)

तथाand/also; likewise

सम्भावनाself-conceit/overestimation (lit. high opinion)

आत्मनिin oneself

एतैःby these

विमुक्तःfreed/released

दोषैःby faults; from faults (as the things removed)

यःwho

सःhe

दान्तःself-controlled; disciplined

सद्भिःby the good (people)

उच्यतेis said/called

Speaker

सनत्युजात उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Self-mastery is defined by freedom from key inner faults—bewilderment of mind, quarrelsome/excessive speech, and self-conceit. Such freedom is what the virtuous recognize as true discipline (dānta).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Udyoga Parva, Sanatsujāta instructs Dhṛtarāṣṭra on dharma and inner governance as the Kurukṣetra conflict approaches, emphasizing moral restraint and mental clarity as prerequisites for wise action.