Shloka 45

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

गृहीतो ब्रह्मणा राजन प्रयुक्तश्न यथाविधि । अध्यापिताश्च मुनयो नाम्ना बर्हिषदो नूप,राजन! ब्रह्माजीने इस धर्मको ग्रहण किया और वे विधिपूर्वक उसे अपने उपयोगमें लाये। नरेश्वर! फिर उन्होंने बर्हिषद्‌ नामवाले मुनियोंको इसका अध्ययन कराया

Transliteration

gṛhīto brahmaṇā rājan prayuktaś ca yathāvidhi | adhyāpitāś ca munayo nāmnā barhiṣado nṛpa ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O King, Brahmā accepted this dharma and employed it in accordance with proper rule. Then, O ruler of men, he caused the sages known as the Barhiṣads to study and master it.”

Word by Word

गृहीतःtaken/accepted

ब्रह्मणाby Brahmā

राजन्O king

प्रयुक्तःemployed/used

चand

यथाas/according to

विधिin the prescribed manner; according to rule

अध्यापिताःwere taught (made to study)

चand

मुनयःsages

नाम्नाby name; named

बर्हिषदःthe Barhiṣads

नृपO king

राजन्O king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Brahmā

King (addressed as rājan/nṛpa)

Barhiṣad munis (Barhiṣadas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is not merely declared but must be properly adopted and applied (yathāvidhi), and its authority is strengthened through disciplined transmission from a primordial source (Brahmā) to recognized sages (the Barhiṣads).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that Brahmā first accepted and practiced the stated dharma according to rule, and then formally instructed a group of sages called the Barhiṣads, establishing a lineage of learning and practice.