Shloka 13

मोक्षधर्मः — स्नेहपाशच्छेदः

Mokṣa-dharma: Cutting the Bonds of Attachment

Devanagari script

शून्यागारं वृक्षमूलमरण्यम थवा गुहाम्‌ । अज्ञातचर्या गत्वान्यां ततो<न्यत्रैव संविशेत्‌

Transliteration

śūnyāgāraṁ vṛkṣamūlam araṇyaṁ athavā guhām | ajñātacaryāṁ gatvānyāṁ tato 'nyatraiva saṁviśet ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“当依止空屋、树根、森林或山洞而住。既行不为人知、隐微不显之生活，便当迁往他处，再于别处安住——藏其形迹，专注于内观自省。”

Word by Word

• शून्यागारम्: an empty house
• शून्यागारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शून्यागार
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वृक्षमूलम्: the root of a tree
• वृक्षमूलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्षमूल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अरण्यम्: a forest
• अरण्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अथवा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• गुहाम्: a cave
• गुहाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अज्ञातचर्या: unknown/hidden conduct (incognito manner of living)
• अज्ञातचर्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञातचर्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)

• अन्याम्: another (place)
• अन्याम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र

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

• संविशेत्: should enter/should lie down (take rest/dwell)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (सम् + विश्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• empty house (śūnyāgāra)
• tree root (vṛkṣamūla)
• forest (araṇya)
• cave (guhā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

To cultivate detachment and inner discipline by living simply and inconspicuously—choosing secluded shelters and avoiding recognition—so the mind can remain focused on self-reflection and spiritual practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and the path of restraint/renunciation. Here he advises a seeker to stay in secluded places (empty house, tree-root, forest, cave) and to live incognito, shifting residence to remain unobtrusive and devoted to contemplation.