Shloka 12

Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency

Mahābhārata 12.292

Devanagari script

प्रयत्नेन च संसिद्धा धनैरपि विवर्जिता: । सम्यग्‌ हुत्वा हुतवहं मुनयः सिद्धिमागता:

Transliteration

prayatnena ca saṁsiddhā dhanair api vivarjitāḥ | samyag hutvā hutavahaṁ munayaḥ siddhim āgatāḥ ||

Translation

Parāśara nói: Dẫu không có của cải, các bậc hiền triết vẫn đạt thành tựu nhờ nỗ lực bền bỉ của chính mình. Họ đã hiến cúng đúng nghi vào ngọn lửa thiêng, thực hành Agnihotra như pháp, và nhờ đó đạt được thành công tâm linh. Câu kệ nêu rõ rằng sự tinh tấn có kỷ luật và việc hành trì nghi lễ theo dharma có thể đưa đến thành tựu, không lệ thuộc vào tài vật.

Word by Word

• प्रयत्नेन: by effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• संसिद्धाः: fully accomplished / perfected
• संसिद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसिद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धनैः: by/with wealth (riches)
• धनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• विवर्जिताः: devoid of / bereft of
• विवर्जिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्जित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सम्यक्: properly, duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• हुत्वा: having offered (oblations)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• हुतवहम्: Agni, the oblation-carrier (fire)
• हुतवहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुतवह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सिद्धिम्: success, attainment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आगताः: having attained / reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: Past (Perfective participle, PPP), Plural, Masculine, Nominative

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• पराशर (Parāśara)
• मुनयः / ऋषि-मुनि (sages)
• हुतवह / अग्नि (Agni, sacrificial fire)
• अग्निहोत्र (Agnihotra, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True accomplishment does not depend on wealth; disciplined personal effort and properly performed dharmic practice (such as sacrificial offerings) can lead to spiritual attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Parāśara cites the example of sages who lacked material riches yet achieved siddhi by sustained effort and by correctly performing fire-offerings, illustrating a moral lesson about the power of practice and right conduct.