Shloka 30

Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya

Devanagari script

कामेन युक्ता ऋषयस्तपस्येव समाहिता: । पलाशफलमूलादा वायुभक्षा: सुसंयता:

Transliteration

kāmena yuktā ṛṣayas tapasy eva samāhitāḥ | palāśa-phala-mūlāda vāyu-bhakṣāḥ su-saṃyatāḥ ||

Translation

Các hiền triết, bị dục vọng thúc đẩy, trở nên chuyên chú và nhập định như thể đang hành khổ hạnh. Sống bằng lá palāśa, trái cây và rễ—thậm chí chỉ nương vào hơi thở như thức ăn—họ vẫn giữ sự tự chế nghiêm mật.

Word by Word

• कामेन: by/with desire
• कामेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• युक्ताः: joined/possessed (of)
• युक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• समाहिताः: collected, absorbed, composed
• समाहिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पलाश-फल-मूल-आदाः: taking (only) palāśa fruits and roots
• पलाश-फल-मूल-आदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वायु-भक्षाः: air-eaters (living on air)
• वायु-भक्षाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सु-संयताः: well-restrained, very self-controlled
• सु-संयताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-यम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीमयेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ṛṣayaḥ (sages)
• palāśa (Butea monosperma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the paradox that even sages can be propelled by desire, yet outwardly display intense discipline and austerity. It invites ethical reflection on the difference between inner motive (kāma) and outer practice (tapas), emphasizing that true restraint concerns the mind as much as the body.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes (or is quoted describing) sages who, driven by desire, adopt severe ascetic modes of living—subsisting on leaves, fruits, roots, or even air—while maintaining strong self-control, illustrating the power of desire and the appearance of austerity.