Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 16

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

निः:संदिग्धमनीहो वै मुक्त: सर्वपरिग्रहै: । विविक्तचारी लघ्वाशी तपस्वी नियतेन्द्रिय:

Transliteration

niḥsaṃdigdhamanīho vai muktaḥ sarvaparigrahaiḥ | viviktacārī laghvāśī tapasvī niyatendriyaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：无疑无惑、无躁动之求；舍弃一切财物与执著；独居清修、饮食简淡、行苦行、调伏诸根——如此之人，以坚定不移之心，必能无疑地证得至上梵（Brahman）。

Word by Word

• निःसंदिग्धम्: without doubt, certainly
• निःसंदिग्धम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसंदिग्ध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनीहः: free from striving/effortless
• अनीहः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• मुक्तः: freed, released
• मुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वपरिग्रहैः: by/with all possessions/attachments
• सर्वपरिग्रहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वपरिग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विविक्तचारी: one who lives/acts in seclusion
• विविक्तचारी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्तचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लघ्वाशी: one who eats little
• लघ्वाशी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघ्वाशिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तपस्वी: ascetic, practitioner of austerity
• तपस्वी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नियतइन्द्रियः: one whose senses are restrained
• नियतइन्द्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियतइन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Liberation and realization of Brahman come through inner discipline: freedom from doubt, renunciation of grasping (parigraha), seclusion from distractions, moderation in food, austerity, and restraint of the senses—culminating in a steady, controlled mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about the qualities of a true renunciant/aspirant whose disciplined life and unwavering mind lead to certain attainment of the Supreme.