Shloka 53

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

Non-attachment

Devanagari script

प्रीयमाणा नरा यत्र प्रयच्छेयुरयाचिता: । स्वस्थचित्तो वसेत्‌ तत्र कृतकृत्य इवात्मवान्‌

Transliteration

prīyamāṇā narā yatra prayaccheyur ayācitāḥ | svasthacitto vaset tatra kṛtakṛtya ivātmavān ||

Translation

那罗陀说道：在某处，人们心怀欢喜，未待乞求便施与布施；自制之人应当在彼处安住，心神澄定，如同诸事已毕——沉稳而自持。

Word by Word

• प्रीयमाणाः: being pleased, delighted
• प्रीयमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्री (धातु) → प्रीयमाण (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नराः: men, people
• नराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• प्रयच्छेयुः: would give, should give
• प्रयच्छेयुः: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अयाचिताः: unasked (alms), without being requested
• अयाचिताः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + याचित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• स्वस्थचित्तः: with a calm/steady mind
• स्वस्थचित्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थचित्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसेत्: should dwell, should live
• वसेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• कृतकृत्यः: one who has accomplished what is to be done
• कृतकृत्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतकृत्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• आत्मवान्: self-controlled, possessing self
• आत्मवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A renunciant or disciplined seeker should choose a supportive environment where alms are offered willingly and unasked, and then live there with inner calm and self-mastery, free from anxiety and dependence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is giving practical guidance on the conduct and residence of a self-controlled person (especially one living on alms), emphasizing non-demanding dependence and mental equanimity.