Shloka 3
Devanagari script
ते5पश्यन् पुलिने तं वै विविक्ते नियतव्रतम् । समासीन निराहारं द्विजं जप्पपरायणम्
Transliteration
te’paśyan puline taṃ vai vivikte niyatavratam | samāsīnaṃ nirāhāraṃ dvijaṃ jappaparāyaṇam ||
Translation
他们在河岸一处幽僻之地看见一位婆罗门：誓戒坚固，行持严整——端坐绝食，心无旁骛，专注于反复诵持神圣真言。此景彰显自制与内在礼敬的伦理理想：修行当远离炫示与纷扰，于寂静中精进。
Word by Word
तेthey
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अपश्यन्saw
अपश्यन्:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada
पुलिनेon the sandbank/riverbank
पुलिने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपुलिन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
विविक्तेin a secluded (place)
विविक्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootविविक्त
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
नियतव्रतम्one of restrained vows
नियतव्रतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनियत-व्रत
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
समासीनम्seated
समासीनम्:
Karma
TypeParticiple
Rootसम्-आस्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally)
निराहारम्fasting; without food
निराहारम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्-आहार
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
द्विजम्a brahmin (twice-born)
द्विजम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जपपरायणम्devoted to mantra-recitation
जपपरायणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootजप-परायण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
भ
भीष्म (Bhīṣma) (speaker)द
द्विज (a Brahmin)प
पुलिन (riverbank/sandbank)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic discipline: steadfast vows (vrata-niyama), fasting (nirāhāra), and inward devotion through mantra-repetition (japa). Ethical strength is shown as self-mastery pursued in solitude, not for recognition.
Some observers come upon a Brahmin sitting alone on a riverbank. He is fasting and absorbed in japa, indicating a life of regulated vows and spiritual practice, setting the stage for a teaching or encounter centered on ascetic merit and dharma.