Shloka 45

Devanagari script

चतुर्विधात्मकं सोम॑ ये पिबन्ति च सर्वदा । श्रुतेन ब्रह्मचर्येण तपसा च दमेन च

Transliteration

caturvidhātmakaṃ somaṃ ye pibanti ca sarvadā | śrutena brahmacaryeṇa tapasā ca damena ca ||

Translation

三阇耶说：“那些恒常以四重形态‘饮’苏摩者，是以圣典之学、以梵行之戒、以苦行之修、以自制之德而饮。”

Word by Word

चतुर्विधात्मकम्fourfold in nature

सोमम्Soma (sacrificial drink)

येwho (those who)

पिबन्तिdrink

चand

सर्वदाalways

श्रुतेनby sacred learning / by the Veda

ब्रह्मचर्येणby celibacy / studentship

तपसाby austerity

चand

दमेनby self-control

चand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Soma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True spiritual ‘nourishment’ (symbolized as Soma) is attained through a fourfold discipline: scriptural learning (śruta), celibate/regulated conduct (brahmacarya), austerity (tapas), and self-restraint (dama). The verse frames inner purification as an ethical practice rather than mere ritual consumption.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Sauptika Parva context, Sañjaya is reporting reflections that contrast destructive wartime acts with ideals of restraint and higher conduct. This verse introduces a moral-spiritual standard—self-mastery and disciplined living—set against the surrounding atmosphere of violence and retribution.