Shloka 20

Brāhmaṇa-pūjā, Haviḥ-dāna, and the Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī Saṃvāda

Chapter 34

Devanagari script

केशव! जिनके मनमें ममता नहीं है

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | keśava! yeṣāṁ manasi mamatā nāsti, ye pratidhvandvair rahitāḥ, lajjām atikrāntāḥ, kvacid api nirprayojanāḥ; vedajñānabalena durdharṣāḥ, pravacanakuśalāḥ, brahmavādinaḥ; ahiṁsāyāṁ tatparāḥ satya-vratāś ca sadā, indriyasaṁyama-mano-nigraha-sādhaneṣu saṁlagnāḥ—tān ahaṁ namasyāmi || devatātithipūjāyāṁ yuktā ye gṛhamedhinaḥ | kapotavṛttayo nityaṁ tān namasyāmi yādava ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：“噢，计舍婆！我礼敬那些人：心中执取已灭，离于诸对待，超越羞惭，于任何处皆无自利之图。凭吠陀之智力，他们成为不可摧伏；善于宣讲，常说梵之道。勤修不害，终身誓守真实，并恒常修习制御诸根与调伏其心。又噢，雅陀婆！我亦俯首礼敬那些居家之人：常行‘鸽之道’——知足寡欲——而专心敬奉诸天，礼敬来宾。”

Word by Word

• देवता: deity (as object of worship)
• देवता: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिथि: guest
• अतिथि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पूजायाम्: in worship
• पूजायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• युक्ताः: engaged, devoted
• युक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गृहमेधिनः: householders
• गृहमेधिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहमेधिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कपोतवृत्तयः: those whose livelihood is like a pigeon’s (simple subsistence)
• कपोतवृत्तयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोतवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य
• Form: true

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नमस्यामि: I bow to / I salute
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (नम्)
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यादव: O Yādava
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Yādava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Vedas
• Brahman
• Devatā (gods)
• Atithi (guest)
• Gṛhamedhins (householder Brahmins)
• Kapota (pigeon) as an ethical exemplar

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Nārada honors two complementary ideals of dharma: (1) the renunciate-like sage who is free from possessiveness, steady amid opposites, devoted to ahiṁsā and satya, and disciplined in mind and senses; and (2) the exemplary householder who lives simply (kapota-vṛtti) while faithfully worshiping the gods and serving guests. The teaching is that spiritual excellence is measured by inner detachment and ethical restraint, whether in ascetic life or in household life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Nārada addresses Kṛṣṇa (Keśava/Yādava) and offers reverential salutations to virtuous Brahmins—first describing the qualities of spiritually formidable teachers of Brahman, then praising householders devoted to ritual duty and hospitality. The passage functions as a moral commendation of ideal conduct across āśramas.