Shloka 3

Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)

Devanagari script

ऋषयस्तु व्रतपरा: समागम्य पुरा विभुम्‌ । धर्म पप्रच्छुरासीनमादिकाले प्रजापतिम्‌

Transliteration

ṛṣayas tu vrataparāḥ samāgamya purā vibhum | dharmaṃ papracchur āsīnam ādikāle prajāpatiṃ ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: In ancient times, the sages—steadfast in their vows—assembled and approached the Supreme Lord. At the beginning of creation, they questioned Prajāpati, who was seated, about dharma—seeking the foundational rule of right conduct that sustains the world.

Word by Word

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• व्रतपराः: devoted to vows/observances
• व्रतपराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रतपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समागम्य: having approached/met
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम्
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• पुरा: formerly/once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• विभुम्: the mighty one/lord
• विभुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma (righteousness/duty)
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पप्रच्छुः: asked/inquired
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• आसीनम्: seated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस्
• Form: Kta (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आदिकाले: in the primordial time/beginning
• आदिकाले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदिकाल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• प्रजापतिम्: Prajāpati (lord of creatures)
• प्रजापतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• ṛṣayaḥ (sages)
• Vibhu (the Supreme Lord)
• Prajāpati

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is presented as a primordial, world-sustaining principle worth seeking from the highest authority; disciplined seekers (ṛṣis) approach the source of creation to understand right conduct and order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa frames an ancient scene: vow-observant sages gather and approach Prajāpati (the progenitor), seated at the dawn of time, and ask him to explain dharma.