Shloka 53

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

Ethics of Non-attachment

Devanagari script

तथैनमवमन्येरन्‌ परे सततमेव हि । यथावृत्तश्नरेच्छान्त: सतां धर्मानकुत्सयन्‌

Transliteration

tathainam avamanyeran pare satatam eva hi | yathāvṛttaśnarecchāntaḥ satāṃ dharmān akutsayan |

Translation

“Khi ấy, người đời sẽ không ngừng khinh miệt ông ta. Nhưng ai an nhiên, bằng lòng với những gì đến theo lẽ tự nhiên của sự việc, và không chê bai những nẻo chánh hạnh mà người thiện gìn giữ, thì vẫn vững vàng, vượt ngoài mọi lời chê trách.”

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

एनम्him

अवमन्येरन्would disrespect / might slight

परेothers, opponents/people

सततम्always, continually

एवindeed, just

हिfor, indeed

यथाas, just as

वृत्तwell-conducted, of good conduct

श्नरunclear/rare word (possibly corrupt reading)

इच्छान्तःdesiring

सताम्of the good (people)

धर्मान्duties, righteous principles

अकुत्सयन्did not censure / did not revile

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

pare (other people)

satām (the virtuous/good people)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cultivate contentment with what comes naturally and avoid criticizing the dharmic conduct of the virtuous; otherwise one invites continual contempt from others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is advising about proper ethical disposition: a person should be moderate and accepting of circumstances, and should not fault the righteous standards upheld by good people, since social disdain follows from contrary behavior.