Shloka 9
Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman
Devanagari script
आर्जवेणैव गन्तव्यं न सुखान्वेषिणा तथा । नान्वेष्टव्या विशेषास्तु विशेषा हि प्रसज्धिन:
Transliteration
ārjavenaiva gantavyaṃ na sukhānveṣiṇā tathā | nānveṣṭavyā viśeṣās tu viśeṣā hi prasaṅginaḥ ||
Translation
毗湿摩说：行路当唯以质直为本，不可作逐安逸之人。亦莫寻求种种“殊胜”——殊胜之人、殊胜之地或享乐；因为这些“殊胜”终将成为执著与缠缚之因。
Word by Word
आर्जवेणby straightforwardness
आर्जवेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootआर्जव (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
एवindeed/only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
गन्तव्यम्should be gone/one should proceed
गन्तव्यम्:
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
FormGerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, obligation/necessity
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
सुखcomforts/pleasures
सुख:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसुख (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
अन्वेषिणाby one who seeks
अन्वेषिणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्वेषिन् (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
तथाthus/in that way
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अन्वेष्टव्याःshould not be sought
अन्वेष्टव्याः:
TypeVerb
Rootअन्वेष् (धातु)
FormGerundive (तव्यत्), Masculine, Nominative, Plural, obligation/avoidance (should not be sought)
विशेषाःparticularities/special objects (special persons/places)
विशेषाः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
विशेषाःspecial objects/particulars
विशेषाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हिfor/indeed
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
प्रसक्तिनःof attachment
प्रसक्तिनः:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रसक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Maintain simplicity and straightforward conduct while pursuing one’s path or duty; do not chase comforts or ‘special’ experiences, because such pursuits tend to generate attachment and bondage.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he gives practical guidance: travel/live with plainness and avoid seeking exceptional pleasures or associations that foster clinging.