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Shloka 28

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

तस्मात्‌ तानृत्विजो लुब्धा याजयन्त्यशुभान्‌ नरान्‌,लोभी ऋत्विज तो ऐसे लोगोंका ही यज्ञ कराते हैं, जो अशुभ (मोक्षकी इच्छासे रहित) होते हैं, श्रेष्ठ पुरुष तो स्वधर्मका आचरण करते हुए ही प्रजाको स्वर्गमें पहुँचा देते हैं। जाजले! यही सोचकर मेरी बुद्धि भी सर्वत्र समान भाव ही रखती है

tasmāt tān ṛtvijo lubdhā yājayanty aśubhān narān | lobhī ṛtvijaḥ to aise logoṅ kā hī yajña karāte haiṅ, jo aśubha (mokṣa-kī icchā-se rahita) hote haiṅ; śreṣṭha puruṣa to svadharma-kā ācaraṇa karate hue hī prajā-ko svarga-meṅ pahuṅcā dete haiṅ | jājale! yahī socakara merī buddhi bhī sarvatra samāna bhāva hī rakhatī hai ||

Vì thế, các tư tế tham lam đứng ra chủ tế cho hạng người ấy—những kẻ tâm tính bất tường, không có chí hướng cầu giải thoát. Còn bậc chân thiện thì chỉ bằng việc kiên trì thực hành svadharma của mình cũng có thể dẫn dắt dân chúng lên cõi trời. Hỡi Jājali, suy ngẫm như vậy nên trí hiểu của ta ở khắp nơi đều bình đẳng, không thiên lệch.

तस्मात्therefore; from that
तस्मात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतद्
Formablative (used adverbially): 'therefore/from that'
तान्those (men)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
ऋत्विजःpriests (ṛtviks)
ऋत्विजः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootऋत्विज्
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
लुब्धाःgreedy
लुब्धाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootलुब्ध
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
याजयन्तिcause (them) to perform sacrifice; officiate for
याजयन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootयाजय् (causative of यज्)
Formpresent, parasmaipada, 3rd person, plural
अशुभान्inauspicious; unworthy
अशुभान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअशुभ
Formmasculine, accusative, plural
नरान्men
नरान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनर
Formmasculine, accusative, plural

चुलाधार उवाच

चुलाधार (Cūlādhāra)
जाजलि (Jājali)
ऋत्विजः (sacrificial priests)
स्वर्ग (Svarga)

Educational Q&A

Cūlādhāra contrasts outward ritual with inner ethical orientation: priests driven by greed tend to serve people lacking higher aims, whereas the truly noble uplift society through faithful practice of svadharma and an impartial, equal-minded outlook.

In the Cūlādhāra–Jājali discourse of Śānti Parva, Cūlādhāra instructs Jājali by criticizing mercenary priestcraft and asserting that genuine excellence lies in righteous conduct that benefits the community, culminating in the ideal of samāna-bhāva (equanimity).