Shloka 7

Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency

Mahābhārata 12.292

Devanagari script

रन्तिदेवेन लोकेष्टा सिद्धि: प्राप्ता महात्मना । फलपपत्रैरथो मूलैर्मुनीनर्चितवांश्ष सः

Transliteration

rāntidevena lokeṣṭā siddhiḥ prāptā mahātmanā | phala-pattrair atho mūlaiḥ munīn arcitavān saḥ ||

Translation

大心之王兰提提婆，得到了世间众人所希求的圆满成就。他以朴素供养——果实、叶片与根茎——礼敬诸圣贤，由此昭示：结出最高灵果的，并非奢华，而是真诚的敬意与无私的待客之道。

Word by Word

• रन्तिदेवेन: by Rantideva
• रन्तिदेवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्तिदेव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• लोकेष्टा: desired by the world (world-desired)
• लोकेष्टा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकेष्टा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सिद्धिः: success, attainment
• सिद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राप्ता: obtained, attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• फल: with fruits
• फल: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पपत्रैः: with leaves
• पपत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पपत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अथ: and, then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• मूलैः: with roots
• मूलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• मुनीन्: sages
• मुनीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अर्चितवान्: having worshipped, honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past active participle (क्तवतु)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Rantideva
• muni (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True spiritual success (siddhi) arises from dharmic conduct—especially sincere reverence and service to the wise—performed with whatever simple means one has, rather than from wealth or display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Parāśara cites King Rantideva as an example: by worshipfully receiving and honoring sages with modest forest-like offerings (fruits, leaves, roots), Rantideva attained a highly desired spiritual accomplishment.