Shloka 18

अकामो वा सकामो वा स समेष्यति ते वशे । विबुधो मन्त्रसंशान्तो भवेद्‌ भृत्य इवानत:,वह देवता कामनारहित हो या कामनायुक्त, मन्त्रके प्रभावसे शान्तचित्त हो विनीत सेवककी भाँति तुम्हारे पास आकर तुम्हारे अधीन हो जायगा

akāmo vā sakāmo vā sa sameṣyati te vaśe | vibudho mantrasaṃśānto bhaved bhṛtya ivānataḥ ||

Dù vị ấy không còn dục vọng hay bị dục vọng thúc đẩy, vị thiên thần ấy cũng sẽ đến và quy phục dưới quyền nàng. Được sức mạnh của chân ngôn làm cho lắng dịu, vị ấy sẽ trở nên như một kẻ hầu khiêm cung—cúi đầu, vâng phục—tiến đến trước nàng trong sự quy thuận.

अकामःdesireless
अकामः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअकाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
सकामःdesirous
सकामः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसकाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
समेष्यतिwill come/approach
समेष्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-इ
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तेof you/your
ते:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
वशेunder control, in subjection
वशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
विबुधःa god/celestial, wise one
विबुधः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविबुध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मन्त्रसंशान्तःcalmed/appeased by mantra
मन्त्रसंशान्तः:
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्त्र-संशान्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भवेत्would be / may become
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormOptative (Liṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
भृत्यःservant
भृत्यः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभृत्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अनतःbowed down, humble
अनतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootअनत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

ब्राह्मण उवाच

ब्राह्मण (speaker)
विबुध (a celestial/deva-like being)
मन्त्र (mantra)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that mantra, when correctly applied, can pacify and subdue even a powerful celestial being, regardless of whether that being is desireless or desire-driven. Implicitly, it highlights the ethical burden on the practitioner: spiritual power that compels obedience must be governed by dharma and restraint.

A brahmin speaker assures someone that by the efficacy of a mantra, a vibudha (celestial being) will approach and become obedient—like a bowed servant—coming under the listener’s control. The statement functions as a promise of ritual efficacy within the ongoing Vana Parva episode.