Shloka 29

Vyāsa’s Inquiry into Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Tapas and the Identification of Vidura with Dharma

Devanagari script

न चोत्सहे तपोविध्नं कर्तु ते धर्मचारिणि । तपसो हि परं नास्ति तपसा विन्दते महत्‌

Transliteration

na cotsahe tapovidhnaṁ kartu te dharmacāriṇi | tapaso hi paraṁ nāsti tapasā vindate mahat ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“噢，奉行正法的夫人，我不忍对你的苦行（tapas）加以任何阻碍。因为没有什么高于苦行；凭借苦行，人得以获得至上的善果。”

Word by Word

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

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

• उत्सहे: I am able / I dare
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सह्
• Form: Lat, Present indicative, 1, Singular, Atmanepada

• तपोविध्नम्: obstacle to austerity
• तपोविध्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोविघ्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कर्तुम्: to do / to make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• धर्मचारिणि: O righteous-practising lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मचारिणी
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• तपसः: than austerity
• तपसः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• परम्: higher / superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• अस्ति: there is
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Lat, Present indicative, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विन्दते: one obtains / finds
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Lat, Present indicative, 3, Singular, Atmanepada

• महत्: the great (thing)
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates tapas (austerity/discipline) as a supreme spiritual means and an ethical value: one should not obstruct another’s sincere ascetic practice, because tapas leads to the highest good.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports a speaker addressing a righteous woman engaged in austerities, declaring that he will not interfere with her tapas and affirming its unsurpassed power to yield the greatest attainment.