Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 15
ध्यानयोगवर्णनम्
Description of the Path of Meditation
Devanagari script
शृणोति कथितं जीव: कर्णाभ्यां न शृणोति तत् । महर्षे मनसि व्यग्रे तस्माज्जीवो निरर्थक:
Translation
大圣仙啊！众生以双耳听闻他人所说；然而若心意纷扰，即使听见也如未听见。故而，若离于心而别立“生命之体”，实属无义。
Word by Word
शृणोतिhe hears
शृणोति:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (शृ)
FormLat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
कथितम्what is said / spoken
कथितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootकथित (कथ् + क्त)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
जीवःthe living being (jīva)
जीवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजीव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कर्णाभ्याम्with (both) ears
कर्णाभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Dual
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
शृणोतिhe hears
शृणोति:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (शृ)
FormLat (Present), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तत्that (same thing)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
महर्षेO great sage
महर्षे:
TypeNoun
Rootमहर्षि
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
मनसिin the mind
मनसि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
व्यग्रेwhen (it is) agitated/distracted
व्यग्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootव्यग्र
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तस्मात्therefore / from that (reason)
तस्मात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतस्मात् (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
जीवःthe jīva
जीवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजीव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निरर्थकःmeaningless / futile (to posit)
निरर्थकः:
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरर्थक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भरद्वाज उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes