Shloka 17

Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman

Devanagari script

पत्तनानि च रम्याणि स्फीतानि नगराणि च | रत्नानि च विचित्राणि पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति

Transliteration

paṭṭanāni ca ramyāṇi sphītāni nagarāṇi ca | ratnāni ca vicitrāṇi paśyann api na paśyati |

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Dẫu những thị trấn xinh đẹp và các thành phố phồn thịnh hiện ra trước mắt, dẫu bao loại châu báu kỳ diệu bày ra trước tầm nhìn, chàng vẫn nhìn mà như không thấy. Câu kệ nêu lý tưởng đạo đức của sự ly tham nội tâm: khi tâm đã an trú trong xả ly, vẻ huy hoàng bên ngoài không còn khơi dậy dục vọng hay làm phân tán nữa.

Word by Word

• पत्तनानि: towns/ports
• पत्तनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्तन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• रम्याणि: beautiful/charming
• रम्याणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• स्फीतानि: prosperous/abundant
• स्फीतानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फीत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• नगराणि: cities
• नगराणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• रत्नानि: gems/jewels
• रत्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• विचित्राणि: variegated/wondrous
• विचित्राणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• पश्यन्: seeing (while seeing)
• पश्यन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पश्यति: he sees
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• towns (paṭṭana)
• cities (nagara)
• jewels (ratna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True renunciation is shown by non-attachment: even when wealth, beauty, and luxury are directly visible, a disciplined person remains inwardly unmoved, free from desire and possessiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a renunciate-like figure passing through prosperous towns and cities where splendid jewels are visible; yet, despite looking, he is portrayed as not really 'seeing' them—meaning he does not engage with them through craving or interest.