Shloka 2

Devanagari script

गृहस्थधर्म विप्रेन्द्र कृत्वा पुत्रगतं त्वहम्‌ । धर्म परमकं कुर्या को हि मार्गो भवेद्‌ द्विज,विप्रवर! मैं गृहस्थ-धर्मको अपने पुत्रोंके अधीन करके सर्वश्रेष्ठ धर्मका पालन करना चाहता हूँ। ब्रह्मन! बताइये, मेरे लिये कौन-सा मार्ग श्रेयस्कर होगा?

Transliteration

gṛhasthadharma viprendra kṛtvā putragataṃ tv aham | dharmaṃ paramakaṃ kuryā ko hi mārgo bhaved dvija ||

Translation

The brāhmaṇa said: “O best of brāhmaṇas, having entrusted the duties of the householder’s dharma to my sons, I now wish to practice the highest dharma. O twice-born one, what path would truly be the most beneficial for me?”

Word by Word

गृहस्थधर्मम्the householder’s duty

विप्रेन्द्रO best of Brahmins

कृत्वाhaving done / having made

पुत्रगतम्gone to/placed under (one’s) sons

तुbut/indeed

अहम्I

धर्मम्dharma; duty

परमकम्supreme, highest

कुर्याम्I should do / I wish to practice

कःwhat? which?

हिindeed/for

मार्गःpath, course

भवेत्would be

द्विजO twice-born

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

brāhmaṇa (speaker)

viprendra (addressed Brahmin)

putrāḥ (sons)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a transition from gṛhastha-dharma (householder responsibilities) to the pursuit of a higher, more liberative dharma, asking which path is truly śreyas (spiritually beneficial). It highlights ethical succession—handing duties to the next generation—before seeking renunciation or higher discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin speaker addresses a revered Brahmin authority, stating that he has placed household obligations under his sons’ care and now seeks guidance on the best course for practicing the highest dharma, effectively requesting instruction on the appropriate next life-path.