Shloka 2
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: On the Superiority of Giving
Maitreya–Vyāsa Exemplum
Devanagari script
दुःखं प्राणपरित्याग: पुरुषाणां महामृधे । जानासि त्वं महाप्राज्ञ प्राणत्यागं सुदुष्करम्
Translation
“O great sage, you know how grievous it is for men, in the great battle, to relinquish life. To give up one’s very breath is an exceedingly difficult act.”
Word by Word
दुःखम्painful; a sorrow (as predicate)
दुःखम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदुःख
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
प्राण-परित्यागःabandoning life; giving up the vital breaths
प्राण-परित्यागः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्राणपरित्याग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुरुषाणाम्of men; for men
पुरुषाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
महा-मृधेin the great battle
महा-मृधे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहा-मृध
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
जानासिyou know
जानासि:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormPresent, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Form—, Nominative, Singular
महा-प्राज्ञO very wise one
महा-प्राज्ञ:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहा-प्राज्ञ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
प्राण-त्यागम्the giving up of life
प्राण-त्यागम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्राणत्याग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सु-दुष्करम्very difficult
सु-दुष्करम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदुष्कर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes