Shloka 27

कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः

Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority

Devanagari script

ततस्तानेव कवय: शास्त्रेषु प्रवदन्त्युत । कीर्त्यर्थमल्पहल्लेखा: पटव: कृत्स्ननिर्णया:

Transliteration

tatas tān eva kavayaḥ śāstreṣu pravadanty uta | kīrty-artham alpa-hal-lekhāḥ paṭavaḥ kṛtsna-nirṇayāḥ ||

Translation

因此，诸贤哲诗人于诸论典中宣说：唯有那些真正能施与无畏（abhaya-dāna，无畏施）之人，方为最上。然在其间，若其心外驰，暗怀对刹那欲乐之贪求者，奉持无畏之誓，多为名闻与世间称誉；而真正娴熟明辨之士，则为求圆满证得至上梵（Brahman）而受持此誓。

Word by Word

• ततः: thereupon/then
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb)

• तान्: those (persons)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine accusative plural

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable

• कवयः: the sages/learned poets
• कवयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि
• Form: masculine nominative plural

• शास्त्रेषु: in the treatises/scriptures
• शास्त्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र
• Form: neuter locative plural

• प्रवदन्ति: declare/say
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वद्
• Form: present tense, parasmaipada, 3rd person plural

• उत: also/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत
• Form: indeclinable

• कीर्त्यर्थम्: for the sake of fame
• कीर्त्यर्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति-अर्थ
• Form: masculine accusative singular (as adverbial purpose)

• अल्पहल्लेखाः: having scant/brief exertion (lit. small ploughing/scratching)
• अल्पहल्लेखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प-हल्-लेख
• Form: masculine nominative plural

• पटवः: skilled/clever
• पटवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पटु
• Form: masculine nominative plural

• कृत्स्ननिर्णयाः: having complete ascertainment/decision
• कृत्स्ननिर्णयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न-निर्णय
• Form: masculine nominative plural

Speaker

तुलाधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Tulādhāra
• kavayaḥ (sages/learned men)
• śāstra (scriptural tradition)
• abhaya-dāna (gift of fearlessness)
• Brahman (Supreme Reality)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes outer religious observance from inner intention: the same vow (granting fearlessness/non-harming) can be pursued either for social fame and honor or as a disciplined means toward realizing the Supreme Brahman. True excellence lies in capability joined with pure motive and complete discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Tulādhāra is instructing his listener on ethical and spiritual standards, explaining how scripture praises those who can truly protect and reassure others, while warning that some adopt such practices merely for reputation, whereas the truly wise adopt them for ultimate spiritual realization.