Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 10

मोक्षधर्मः — स्नेहपाशच्छेदः

Mokṣa-dharma: Cutting the Bonds of Attachment

Devanagari script

प्राणयात्रिकमात्र: स्यान्मात्रालाभेष्वनादृत: | अलाभे न विहन्येत लाभश्नैनं न हर्षयेत्‌

Transliteration

prāṇayātrikamātraḥ syān mātrālābheṣv anādṛtaḥ | alābhe na vihanyeta lābhaś cainaṃ na harṣayet ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：人应只为维持生命而努力——仅求糊口——对超过此度的所得当保持淡然。若未得施食，不应因忧苦而沮丧；若得施食，也不应因欢喜而自得。如此持戒之人，守住平等心，不为得失所系。

Word by Word

• प्राणयात्रिकमात्रः: one who is only for sustaining life (bare-subsistence-minded)
• प्राणयात्रिकमात्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण-यात्रा + मात्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (भू-अर्थे)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मात्रालाभेषु: in gains of mere measure / in just-enough gains
• मात्रालाभेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा + लाभ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अनादृतः: indifferent; not caring
• अनादृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादृत (ppp of अन्-आ-√दृ/√दर् 'to respect' in sense 'to honor')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अलाभे: in non-attainment; when there is no gain
• अलाभे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• विहन्येत: should not be distressed / should not be struck down (mentally)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√हन्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• लाभे: in gain; when gain occurs
• लाभे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रत्ययान्त सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• हर्षयेत्: should not gladden / should not make (him) rejoice
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृष् (णिच्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

To seek only minimal sustenance and remain even-minded: do not grieve when necessities are not obtained, and do not exult when they are obtained. This cultivates freedom from dependence on external gain.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising on disciplined living, emphasizing restraint and inner steadiness in the face of receiving or not receiving food/alms.