Shloka 26

Kaurava Court Hears of the Pāṇḍavas’ Forest Hardship (वैचित्रवीर्यवंशीयस्य राज्ञः करुणाविचारः)

Devanagari script

भागार्थ तपसो धातु तेषां सोम॑ तथाध्वरे

Transliteration

bhāgārtha tapaso dhātu teṣāṃ soma tathādhvare

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya sprach: „Für sie ist Soma im Opferritus die tragende Essenz und der rechtmäßige Anteil — die Substanz selbst, die ihre Askese nährt und ihr heiliges Vorhaben stützt.“

Word by Word

• भागार्थम्: for the sake of a share/portion
• भागार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागार्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तपसः: of austerity/penance
• तपसः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• धातुः: the element/constituent; (also) a mineral/metal
• धातुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: All, Genitive, Plural

• सोमः: Soma (the sacred drink/deity/moon)
• सोमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अध्वरे: in the sacrifice (adhvara)
• अध्वरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Soma
• Adhvara (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links tapas (austerity) and yajña (sacrifice) through the idea of rightful share (bhāga): sacred action is sustained when offerings are properly apportioned and directed, with Soma functioning as a key sustaining essence within the ritual order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing the ritual framework in which certain beings or participants are sustained: in the context of sacrifice (adhvara), Soma is identified as their sustaining principle and the object connected with their due portion and purpose.