Shloka 22
Devanagari script
धर्माधारा धर्मसुखा: कृत्स्नव्यवसितास्तथा
Transliteration
dharmādhārā dharmasukhāḥ kṛtsnavyavasitās tathā
Translation
Chūlādhāra said: “They are grounded in dharma, they find their happiness in dharma, and they are wholly resolved and steadfast in their chosen course as well.”
Word by Word
धर्माधाराःhaving dharma as support; supported by dharma
धर्माधाराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्माधार (धर्म + आधार)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धर्मसुखाःfinding happiness in dharma; whose pleasure is dharma
धर्मसुखाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्मसुख (धर्म + सुख)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
कृत्स्नव्यवसिताःfully resolved; completely determined
कृत्स्नव्यवसिताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृत्स्नव्यवसित (कृत्स्न + व्यवसित)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तथाthus; likewise; also
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
Speaker
चुलाधार उवाच
Characters & Entities
च
चुलाधार (Chūlādhāra)ध
धर्म (dharma)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
True stability and joy come from making dharma one’s foundation: when one’s values are rooted in righteousness, happiness follows from ethical living, and one becomes unwavering in right resolve.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional dialogue, Chūlādhāra characterizes exemplary people as those who rely on dharma, delight in dharma, and remain fully determined in their righteous commitments.