Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 104

नारद–शुक संवादः

Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga

Devanagari script

आत्मा होवात्मनो होक: को<न्यस्तस्मात्परो भवेत्‌ | एवं मन्यस्व सततमन्यथा मा विचिन्तय

Transliteration

ātmā hy ātmanaḥ bandhuḥ ko 'nyas tasmāt paro bhavet | evaṁ manyasva satatam anyathā mā vicintaya yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“唯有自我（我性）才是自己真正的同盟；还有谁能比它更亲近、更崇高？因此，尤提士提罗，你应恒常守持此信念，莫让心念游移于相反之思。”

Word by Word

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• लोकः: the world/realm (one’s own sphere)
• लोकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्यः: other
• अन्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मात्: than that/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• परः: higher/superior
• परः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: might be/could be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• मन्यस्व: think/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 2nd, Singular, Atmanepada

• सततम्: always/constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा

• मा: do not (prohibitive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• विचिन्तय: ponder/think about
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त्
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Ātman (Self/Paramātman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That one’s deepest and most reliable support is the Self; therefore one should cultivate unwavering inner conviction and not be shaken by contrary, distracting thoughts.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of peace and righteous living after the war, emphasizing inner steadiness and spiritual self-reliance as foundations for dharma.