Shloka 43

Vānaprastha-vṛtti and the Transition toward the Fourth Āśrama (वानप्रस्थवृत्तिः चतुर्थाश्रमोपक्रमश्च)

Devanagari script

ज्ञानेन यच्छेदात्मानं य इच्छेच्छान्तिमात्मन: । जो उत्तम ज्ञान प्राप्त करना चाहता हो

Transliteration

jñānena yacched ātmānaṃ ya icchec chāntim ātmanaḥ |

Translation

毗耶娑说：当以智慧制御其身。凡求内在安宁者，应凭真实理解之力，使理智（buddhi）归于至上自性（Supreme Self）的统摄之下——由此降伏心与语，使内在生活安住于寂静。

Word by Word

• ज्ञानेन: by knowledge
• ज्ञानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• यत्: that (which)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• छेत्: should cut off / should sever
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आत्मानम्: the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इच्छेत्: should desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शान्तिम्: peace
• शान्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Ātman (self)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Inner peace is attained by disciplining oneself through jñāna: knowledge should govern and restrain the inner faculties, so that mind, speech, and intellect become steady and aligned with the Supreme Self.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Vyāsa delivers a concise directive on spiritual practice: the seeker should use knowledge as the means to restrain the self and establish tranquillity.