Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 12
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
Devanagari script
सर्वैरपि गुणैरविंद्वान् व्यतिषक्तो न लिप्यते | जलबिन्दुर्यथा लोल: पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थित:
Transliteration
sarvair api guṇair avindvān vyatiṣakto na lipyate | jalabindur yathā lolaḥ padminīpatrasaṁsthitaḥ ||
Translation
风神伐由说道：纵使一人被种种性质与境遇所环绕、交织，只要他不执著，便不为其所染。正如一滴颤动的水珠停在莲叶之上，并不黏附其叶；同样，智者处世而不为世间的接触所污。
Word by Word
सर्वैःby all
सर्वैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
गुणैःqualities/virtues
गुणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगुण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अविन्द्वान्not learned, not wise
अविन्द्वान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअविद्वस् (विद्वस्) / √विद् (to know)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
व्यतिषक्तःentangled/attached (amid them)
व्यतिषक्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootव्यतिषक्त (ppp of √सञ्ज्/√सज् with vi-ati-; 'entangled/attached')
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
लिप्यतेis tainted/defiled
लिप्यते:
TypeVerb
Root√लिप् (to smear, taint)
FormPresent, Passive (Ātmanepada form), 3rd, Singular
जलबिन्दुःa drop of water
जलबिन्दुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजलबिन्दु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas/just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
लोलःtrembling/unsteady
लोलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootलोल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थितःsituated on a lotus-leaf
पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थितः:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootपद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थित (ppp of सम्-√स्था 'to stand/be situated')
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
व
वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)ज
जलबिन्दु (water-drop)प
पद्मिनीपत्र (lotus leaf)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
One should live amidst the guṇas and worldly contacts without inner clinging; true freedom is to remain unstained—like water on a lotus leaf—by practicing non-attachment and self-governance.
Vāyu-deva instructs through a vivid simile: although a person may be surrounded by many influences and qualities, he need not be morally or spiritually tainted if he does not grasp or identify with them.