Shloka 9

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

अथामोघप्रयत्नेन मनो ज्ञाने निवेशयेत्‌ । वाचामोघप्रयासेन मनोज्ञं तत्‌ प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

athāmogha-prayatnena mano jñāne niveśayet | vācāmogha-prayāsena mano-jñaṃ tat pravartate ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Với nỗ lực không uổng phí, hãy đặt tâm vào chân tri. Và với lời nói mà sự gắng sức không vô ích, hãy khởi động điều làm tâm hoan hỷ và đem lợi ích cho tâm.”

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अमोघप्रयत्नेन: with unfailing effort
• अमोघप्रयत्नेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमोघप्रयत्न
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ज्ञाने: in knowledge
• ज्ञाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• निवेशयेत्: should fix/should place (cause to enter)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-विश्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Active, Causative

• वाचा: by speech
• वाचा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अमोघप्रयासेन: with unfailing exertion
• अमोघप्रयासेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमोघप्रयास
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मनोज्ञम्: pleasing (to the mind)
• मनोज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोज्ञ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/comes into operation
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वृत्
• Form: Lat, Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Middle

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Direct the mind toward jñāna through steady, effective effort, and use speech purposefully so that one’s words promote what is mentally wholesome and conducive to inner steadiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and inner governance after the war; here he emphasizes disciplined mental focus on knowledge and restrained, meaningful speech as practical tools for ethical living.