Shloka 8

Marutta–Indra Rivalry and Bṛhaspati’s Priestly Refusal (मरुत्तेन्द्रस्पर्धा—बृहस्पतेः पौरोहित्यनिश्चयः)

Devanagari script

याज्यस्त्वज्धिरस: पूर्वमासीद्‌ राजा करंधम:,इसके पहले अंगिराके यजमान राजा करन्धम थे। संसारमें बल, पराक्रम और सदाचारके द्वारा उनकी समानता करनेवाला दूसरा कोई नहीं था। वे इन्द्रतुल्य तेजस्वी, धर्मात्मा और कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले थे

Transliteration

yājyas tv aṅgirasaḥ pūrvam āsīd rājā karaṃdhamaḥ | tasya loke bala-parākrama-sadācāraiḥ samaḥ kaścid na vidyate | sa indra-tulya-tejasvī dharmātmā ca kaṭhora-vrata-pālakaḥ ||

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: „Einst war der königliche Förderer des Opfers der Weisen der Aṅgirasa der König Karaṃdhama. In der Welt gab es keinen, der ihm an Stärke, Heldenmut und rechtschaffenem Wandel gleichkam. Strahlend wie Indra war er dem Dharma ergeben und standhaft in der Befolgung strenger, asketischer Gelübde.“

Word by Word

याज्यःworthy to be sacrificed for / fit to be worshipped (as patron of sacrifice)

तुbut/indeed

अङ्गिरसःof Aṅgiras (the sage)

पूर्वम्formerly/before

आसीत्was

राजाking

करन्धमःKarandhama (proper name)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Aṅgirasa (lineage of sages)

King Karaṃdhama

Indra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical ideal of kingship: true greatness is measured not only by strength and valor but also by sadācāra (upright conduct), devotion to dharma, and disciplined observance of vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa introduces an earlier exemplar-king, Karaṃdhama, describing him as the sacrificial patron of the Aṅgirasa sages and praising his unmatched power, heroism, and righteousness, setting a moral and historical frame for the surrounding account.