Shloka 2

नारद–असित (देवल) संवादः — भूतप्रभवाप्यय, इन्द्रिय-गुण-विवेक, क्षेत्रज्ञ-तत्त्व

Devanagari script

गार्हस्थ्यस्य च धर्मस्य योगधर्मस्य चोभयो: । अदूरसम्प्रस्थितयो: किंस्विच्छेय: पितामह

Transliteration

gārhasthyasya ca dharmasya yogadharmasya cobhayoḥ | adūrasamprasthitayoḥ kiṃsvid śreyaḥ pitāmaha ||

Translation

Humatsena said: “O Grandfather, the dharma of the householder and the dharma of yoga are not far apart in their aim and spirit. Yet, between these two closely related paths, which is truly the higher good? Please tell me.”

Word by Word

• गार्हस्थ्यस्य: of householdership (householder stage)
• गार्हस्थ्यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• योगधर्मस्य: of the dharma of yoga
• योगधर्मस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• अदूर: not far (close)
• अदूर: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदूर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Nominative, Dual

• सम्प्रस्थितयोः: of the two that have set forth / are proceeding
• सम्प्रस्थितयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-स्था (धातु) → सम्प्रस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• स्वित्: indeed? / I wonder
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वित्

• श्रेयः: the better (good)
• श्रेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

हुमत्सेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Humatsena
• Pitāmaha (Grandfather/elder interlocutor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a classic Mahābhārata ethical inquiry: when two dharmic paths—responsible household life and yogic discipline—both aim at the good, how should one discern śreyas (the highest good). It invites a nuanced hierarchy based on inner aim, conduct, and realization rather than mere external form.

What is happening in the narrative?

Humatsena respectfully asks an elder (addressed as pitāmaha) to adjudicate between two closely related life-paths: gārhasthya-dharma (social and familial duty) and yoga-dharma (spiritual discipline/renunciation). The question sets up a didactic response typical of Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma.