Shloka 17

Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणानां मतिर्वाक्यं कर्म श्रद्धां तपांसि च | धारयन्ति महीं द्यां च शैक्यो वागमृतं तथा

Transliteration

brāhmaṇānāṁ matir vākyaṁ karma śraddhāṁ tapāṁsi ca | dhārayanti mahīṁ dyāṁ ca śaikyo vāg-amṛtaṁ tathā ||

Translation

Arjuna nói: “Trí tuệ phân minh của các Bà-la-môn, lời nói chân thật, hạnh nghiệp chính trực, đức tin và khổ hạnh của họ—chính những điều ấy nâng đỡ cả đất và trời. Cũng vậy, bậc Śaikya (Đức Phật) nâng giữ thế gian bằng lời nói ngọt như cam lộ.”

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmanas
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मतिः: intelligence, counsel
• मतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, utterance
• वाक्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कर्म: ritual action, deed
• कर्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• श्रद्धाम्: faith, trust
• श्रद्धाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तपांसि: austerities, penances
• तपांसि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

• धारयन्ति: they uphold, sustain
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• द्याम्: the heaven/sky
• द्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• शक्यः: possible, able (to be done)
• शक्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अमृतम्: nectar, immortality
• अमृतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Brahmins (Brāhmaṇas)
• Earth (Mahī)
• Heaven/Sky (Dyauḥ)
• Śaikya (Śākya/Buddha)
• Nectar-like speech (Vāk-amṛta)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that society and cosmic order are sustained by inner and outer virtues—clear understanding (mati), truthful and beneficial speech (vākya), righteous conduct (karma), faith (śraddhā), and disciplined austerity (tapas). It also highlights the ethical power of ‘nectar-like’ speech to uphold and guide the world.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse on dharma and right living, Arjuna speaks in praise of the sustaining role of Brahminical virtues and, by comparison, credits the Śaikya with supporting the world through elevating, life-giving speech.