Shloka 43

Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)

Devanagari script

जिज्ञासुस्तमृषिश्रेष्ठ॑ कि कुर्याद्‌ विप्रिये कृते । इति संचिन्त्य धर्म: स धर्षयामास तत्‌ पय:,धर्म उन मुनिश्रेष्ठकी परीक्षा लेना चाहते थे। उन्होंने सोचा, देखूँ तो ये अप्रिय करनेपर क्या करते हैं? इसीलिये उन्होंने उस दूधको क्रोधके स्पर्शसे दूषित कर दिया

Translation

Dharma, wishing to test that foremost of sages, reflected: “What will he do when something displeasing is done?” Thus he tainted that milk with the touch of wrath.

Word by Word

जिज्ञासुःdesirous of testing/knowing

तम्him

ऋषि-श्रेष्ठम्the best of sages

किम्what

कुर्यात्would do / should do

विप्रियेin/when something unpleasant (is done)

कृतेwhen done

इतिthus

संचिन्त्यhaving reflected/thought

धर्मःDharma (personified) / righteousness

सःhe

धर्षयामासassailed/violated/defiled

तत्that

पयःmilk

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes