Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 18

Śakra–Namuci-saṃvāda: Śoka-nivāraṇa and Daiva-vicāra

Indra and Namuci on grief, composure, and inevitability

Devanagari script

द्रव्यत्यागे तु कर्माणि भोगत्यागे व्रतान्यपि । सुखत्यागे तपो योगं सर्वत्यागे समापना

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: dravya-tyāge tu karmāṇi bhoga-tyāge vratāny api | sukha-tyāge tapo yogaṃ sarva-tyāge samāpanā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：为舍弃财物，经典制定祭祀等仪轨之行；为舍弃享乐，制定誓戒之行；为舍弃身乐，制定苦行之道；而为舍弃一切——我慢、我所、执著与贪求——则制定瑜伽之修持。此即舍离之极致与终境。

Word by Word

• द्रव्यत्यागे: in the renunciation of wealth
• द्रव्यत्यागे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य-त्याग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कर्माणि: ritual acts (works)
• कर्माणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• भोगत्यागे: in the renunciation of enjoyments
• भोगत्यागे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग-त्याग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• व्रतानि: vows/observances
• व्रतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सुखत्यागे: in the renunciation of pleasure
• सुखत्यागे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख-त्याग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• योगम्: yoga (discipline)
• योगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वत्यागे: in the renunciation of everything
• सर्वत्यागे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-त्याग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• समापना: completion/culmination
• समापना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: समापन
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Renunciation is graded: giving up wealth is supported by ritual duty; giving up pleasures by vows; giving up bodily comfort by austerity; but the highest renunciation is inner total letting-go—ego, possessiveness, attachment, and desire—fulfilled through Yoga.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira a hierarchy of practices, showing how external renunciations culminate in the inner, comprehensive renunciation taught as Yoga.