Shloka 22

अन्तर्वन-विद्यारण्योपमा

The Allegory of the Inner Forest of Knowledge

Devanagari script

कृशाशा: सुव्रताशाश्च॒ तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषा: । आत्मन्यात्मानमाविश्य ब्रह्माणं समुपासते

Transliteration

kṛśāśāḥ suvratāśāś ca tapasa dagdhakilbiṣāḥ | ātmany ātmānam āviśya brahmāṇaṃ samupāsate ||

Translation

凡世间希求已枯竭者，愿守持清净善誓者，诸罪为苦行之火所焚尽者——如是之人，回心内照，使我住于我中，奉敬至上梵（Brahman）。

Word by Word

• कृशाशाः: having feeble hopes/desires
• कृशाशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश-आशा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुव्रताशाः: desiring good vows/observances
• सुव्रताशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-व्रत-आशा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

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

• दग्धकिल्बिषाः: whose sins are burnt (away)
• दग्धकिल्बिषाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध-किल्बिष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• आत्मानम्: the self (as object)
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आविश्य: having entered/absorbed (oneself)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahman (the Absolute)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समुपासते: they worship/meditate upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-आस्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (ब्रह्म)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True worship of Brahman is grounded in ethical purification and inner discipline: when desires and external expectations fade, one embraces noble vows, purifies wrongdoing through tapas, and then turns inward—fixing the mind in the self—to contemplate the Supreme Reality.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brahmin speaker describes the qualities of genuine spiritual aspirants. Rather than praising ritual or worldly success, he highlights renunciation of hopes, commitment to virtuous vows, purification through austerity, and inward meditation culminating in worship of Brahman.