Shloka 22

Śuka’s Nirveda: Vyāsa’s Admonition on Dharma, Impermanence, and ‘Imperishable Wealth’ (अक्षय-धन)

Devanagari script

तेजसा शक्यते प्राप्तुमुपाय: सहचारिणा । इह च प्रेत्य च श्रेयस्तस्य मूल धृति: परा

Transliteration

tejasā śakyate prāptum upāyaḥ sahacāriṇā | iha ca pretya ca śreyas tasya mūlaṃ dhṛtiḥ parā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：凭借贤善同伴的威德与影响，人便能获得相应的方便之道（upāya），使今世与来世皆得安乐。此等安乐之根本，即至上的“持”（dhṛti）——内心的坚定与不动摇。

Word by Word

• तेजसा: by (their) splendor/power
• तेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शक्यते: is possible / can be
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• प्राप्तुम्: to obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप्
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun)

• उपायः: a means/method
• उपायः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सहचारिणा: by/with a companion (associate)
• सहचारिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहचारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्रेत्य: having departed; after death
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-इ
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund/Lyap)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• श्रेयः: welfare; the good
• श्रेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of that / its
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मूलम्: root; foundation
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धृतिः: steadfastness; firmness (of mind)
• धृतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• परा: supreme; excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Association with the virtuous empowers a person to find effective means for true welfare, but the decisive foundation of that welfare is parā-dhṛti—steady, disciplined firmness of mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on righteous living and inner discipline, emphasizing the value of good company and the central role of mental steadfastness for lasting good.