Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 35

त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma

Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123

तमेन॑ ब्रह्मण: पुत्रमनुजातं क्षुपं ददौ । प्रजानामधिपं श्रेष्ठ सर्वधर्मभूतामपि,ब्रह्माजीके छोटे पुत्र क्षुपको उन्होंने समस्त प्रजाओं तथा सम्पूर्ण धर्मधारियोंका श्रेष्ठ अधिपति बना दिया

tam enaṁ brahmaṇaḥ putram anujātaṁ kṣupaṁ dadau | prajānām adhipaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ sarvadharmabhūtām api ||

Vasuharoma sprach: Brahmā setzte seinen später geborenen Sohn Kṣupa als erhabensten Herrn über alle Geschöpfe ein — ja, als den vornehmsten Hüter unter allen, die Dharma verkörpern und aufrechterhalten.

तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एनम्this (person), him
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ब्रह्मणःof Brahmā / of Brahman
ब्रह्मणः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
पुत्रम्son
पुत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अनुजातम्born after; younger-born
अनुजातम्:
Visheshana
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुजात
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
क्षुपम्Kṣupa (name)
क्षुपम्:
Karma
TypeNoun (Proper name)
Rootक्षुप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ददौgave; bestowed
ददौ:
Kriya
TypeVerb
Rootदा (दाने)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
प्रजानाम्of the creatures/subjects
प्रजानाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
अधिपम्lord; ruler
अधिपम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअधिप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
श्रेष्ठम्best; foremost
श्रेष्ठम्:
Visheshana
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सर्वधर्मभूतानाम्of all those who are established in dharma / of all dharma-bearers
सर्वधर्मभूतानाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun/Adjective (compound)
Rootसर्व-धर्म-भूत
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
अपिalso; even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि

वसुहरोम उवाच

वसुहरोम (Vasuharoma)
ब्रह्मा (Brahmā)
क्षुप (Kṣupa)
प्रजा (subjects/creatures)
धर्म (dharma)

Educational Q&A

Legitimate sovereignty is portrayed as dharma-based stewardship: the best ruler is one who embodies and protects dharma for the welfare of all beings.

Vasuharoma recounts a cosmogonic/lineage episode in which Brahmā appoints his younger son Kṣupa as the foremost lord over all creatures, emphasizing the ethical foundation of authority.