Shloka 24

Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga

Non-attachment

Devanagari script

नक्तंचर्या दिवास्वप्रमालस्यं पैशुनं मदम्‌ | अतियोगमयोगं च श्रेयसो<र्थी परित्यजेत्‌

Transliteration

naktaṃcaryā divāsvapram ālasyaṃ paiśunaṃ madam | atiyogam ayogaṃ ca śreyaso 'rthī parityajet ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：求真实福祉者，当舍弃这些习惯：夜间游荡、白昼嗜睡、懒惰、搬弄是非的谗言、醉 intoxicating 之行，并且在饮食与行止上亦当远离两端——纵欲过度与全然断绝。如此自制，方能扶持一生趋向于善。

Word by Word

• नक्तं: at night
• नक्तं: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्तम्
• Form: Avyaya

• चर्या: wandering/roaming
• चर्या: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्या
• Form: Feminine, nominative, singular

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा
• Form: Avyaya

• स्वप्नम्: sleep
• स्वप्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• आलस्यम्: laziness
• आलस्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलस्य
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• पैशुनम्: slander/backbiting
• पैशुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैशुन
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• मदम्: intoxication
• मदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• अतियोगम्: excessive application/overindulgence
• अतियोगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतियोग
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• अयोगम्: non-application/neglect (improper abstention)
• अयोगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोग
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• श्रेयसः: of the good/supreme good
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, genitive, singular

• अर्थी: one who seeks/desires
• अर्थी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• परित्यजेत्: should abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: Optative (vidhi-lin), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular, present-system

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A seeker of śreyas (the higher good) should abandon harmful habits—night-roaming, daytime sleeping, laziness, slander, and intoxication—and should avoid extremes in lifestyle, cultivating balanced discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Nārada is giving ethical instruction, listing specific behaviors that obstruct welfare and spiritual-ethical progress, emphasizing restraint and moderation.