महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-210, verse-21

home » Scriptures Library » Mahabharata

View complete chapter

रजसा चाप्ययं देही देहवाञ्शब्दवच्चरेत् ।
कार्यैरव्याहतमतिर्वैराग्यात्प्रकृतौ स्थितः ।
आ देहादप्रमादाच्च देहान्ताद्विप्रमुच्यते ॥२१॥

21. rajasā cāpyayaṁ dehī dehavāñśabdavaccaret ,
kāryairavyāhatamatirvairāgyātprakṛtau sthitaḥ ,
ā dehādapramādācca dehāntādvipramucyate.

21. rajasā ca api ayam dehī dehavān
śabdavat caret kāryaiḥ avyāhatamatiḥ
vairāgyāt prakṛtau sthitaḥ ā dehāt
apramādāt ca dehāntāt vipramucyate

21. And this embodied being (dehī), possessing a body, also acts due to activity (rajas) and is characterized by speech. One whose intellect is unimpeded by actions, and who remains situated in the totality of nature (prakṛti) through detachment, is completely liberated from the body (saṃsāra) from its initial formation, and through constant vigilance, until its ultimate dissolution.

Words meanings summery:

(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)

रजसा (rajasā) - by the quality of activity and motion (by rajas, by activity, by passion)

च (ca) - and (and, also)

अपि (api) - also, indicating emphasis or inclusion (also, even, moreover)

अयम् (ayam) - this particular embodied being (this, he)

देही (dehī) - the individual soul encased in a body (embodied one, soul, living being)

देहवान् (dehavān) - being physically incarnated (having a body, embodied)

शब्दवत् (śabdavat) - characterized by the faculty of speech or sound (having sound, endowed with speech/sound, verbal)

चरेत् (caret) - one should conduct oneself, or simply 'acts' (one should move, one should act, one should wander)

कार्यैः (kāryaiḥ) - by worldly actions or ritual duties (by actions, by duties, by deeds)

अव्याहतमतिः (avyāhatamatiḥ) - one whose understanding is not obstructed or distracted by worldly actions (whose mind is unimpeded, having an unhindered intellect)

वैराग्यात् (vairāgyāt) - by the means of non-attachment to worldly objects (from dispassion, due to detachment)

प्रकृतौ (prakṛtau) - in the totality of nature (prakṛti), the primordial substance (in nature, in the original form, in the primary cause)

स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - remaining steadfast, firmly established (situated, standing, abiding)

आ (ā) - from (a starting point), extending throughout (until, up to, from, throughout)

देहात् (dehāt) - from the very acquisition or formation of the body (i.e., birth) (from the body)

अप्रमादात् (apramādāt) - through constant spiritual alertness and carefulness (from vigilance, due to carefulness, by non-negligence)

च (ca) - and (and, also)

देहान्तात् (dehāntāt) - until the final dissolution of the body (death) (from the end of the body, until the end of the body)

विप्रमुच्यते (vipramucyate) - attains final liberation (mokṣa) (is completely liberated, is set free)

Words meanings and morphology

रजसा (rajasā) - by the quality of activity and motion (by rajas, by activity, by passion)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, singular of rajas

rajas - dust, gloom, passion, activity, one of the three guṇas

Root: raj

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

अपि (api) - also, indicating emphasis or inclusion (also, even, moreover)

(indeclinable)

अयम् (ayam) - this particular embodied being (this, he)

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of idam

idam - this, here, now

Masculine nominative singular of `idam`.

Note: Qualifies `dehī`.

देही (dehī) - the individual soul encased in a body (embodied one, soul, living being)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dehin

dehin - having a body, embodied, living being, soul

From `deha` (body) + `in` (possessive suffix).

Note: Subject.

देहवान् (dehavān) - being physically incarnated (having a body, embodied)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dehavat

dehavat - having a body, embodied

From `deha` (body) + `matup` (possessive suffix).

शब्दवत् (śabdavat) - characterized by the faculty of speech or sound (having sound, endowed with speech/sound, verbal)

(indeclinable)

From `śabda` (sound, word) + `matup` (possessive suffix).

चरेत् (caret) - one should conduct oneself, or simply 'acts' (one should move, one should act, one should wander)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, optative (vidhi-liṅ) of car

Optative mood, 3rd person singular

`car` (1P) + `yāsuṭ` (optative sign) + `t` (3rd sing ending)

Root: car (class 1)

Note: The `dehī` is the implied subject.

कार्यैः (kāryaiḥ) - by worldly actions or ritual duties (by actions, by duties, by deeds)

(noun)

Instrumental, neuter, plural of kārya

kārya - to be done, duty, action, business, work

Gerundive (or Nomen agentis)

From root `kṛ` + `ṇyat` suffix.

Root: kṛ (class 8)

अव्याहतमतिः (avyāhatamatiḥ) - one whose understanding is not obstructed or distracted by worldly actions (whose mind is unimpeded, having an unhindered intellect)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of avyāhatamati

avyāhatamati - having an unimpeded intellect/mind

`na` (negation) + `vyāhata` (struck, impeded) + `mati` (mind, intellect)

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (a+vyāhata+mati)

a – not, un-
indeclinable
negative particle
vyāhata – struck, impeded, obstructed
adjective (masculine)
Past Passive Participle
From `vi` + `ā` + `han` + `kta` suffix
Prefixes: vi+ā
Root: han (class 2)
mati – mind, intellect, thought, opinion
noun (feminine)
From root `man` + `kti` suffix
Root: man (class 4)

वैराग्यात् (vairāgyāt) - by the means of non-attachment to worldly objects (from dispassion, due to detachment)

(noun)

Ablative, neuter, singular of vairāgya

vairāgya - dispassion, detachment, indifference to worldly objects

From `virāga` (absence of passion) + `ṣyañ` suffix.

प्रकृतौ (prakṛtau) - in the totality of nature (prakṛti), the primordial substance (in nature, in the original form, in the primary cause)

(noun)

Locative, feminine, singular of prakṛti

prakṛti - nature, original form, primary cause, primordial substance, material cause (prakṛti)

From `pra` + `kṛ` + `kti` suffix.

Prefix: pra

Root: kṛ (class 8)

स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - remaining steadfast, firmly established (situated, standing, abiding)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sthita

sthita - standing, situated, abiding, firm, steadfast

Past Passive Participle

From root `sthā` + `kta` suffix.

Root: sthā (class 1)

आ (ā) - from (a starting point), extending throughout (until, up to, from, throughout)

(indeclinable)

देहात् (dehāt) - from the very acquisition or formation of the body (i.e., birth) (from the body)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of deha

deha - body, form, person

From root `dih` + `a` suffix.

Root: dih (class 6)

Note: Denotes point of origin, here, the beginning of life in a body.

अप्रमादात् (apramādāt) - through constant spiritual alertness and carefulness (from vigilance, due to carefulness, by non-negligence)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of apramāda

apramāda - vigilance, carefulness, diligence, non-negligence

`na` (negation) + `pramāda` (negligence)

Compound type : navi-tatpurusha (a+pramāda)

a – not, un-
indeclinable
negative particle
pramāda – negligence, carelessness, error
noun (masculine)
From `pra` + `mad` + `ghañ` suffix.
Prefix: pra
Root: mad (class 4)

Note: Denotes cause or means.

च (ca) - and (and, also)

(indeclinable)

Note: Connects `ā dehāt` and `apramādāt` in terms of cause/condition for liberation.

देहान्तात् (dehāntāt) - until the final dissolution of the body (death) (from the end of the body, until the end of the body)

(noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of dehānta

dehānta - end of the body, death

`deha` (body) + `anta` (end)

Compound type : tatpurusha (deha+anta)