Shloka 1
स्त्रीणां माहात्म्यप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into the Excellence of Women
Pativratā-Dharma
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत मार्कण्डेययमास्यापर्वमें शिविचरिताविषयक एक सौ चौरानबेवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ १९४ ॥। #::73:.8 #::3:.:.7 () हि 2 7 पजञज्चनवर्त्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: राजा ययातिद्वारा ब्राह्गको सहस्र गौओंका दान मार्कण्डेय उवाच इदमन्यच्छुयतां ययातिर्नाहुषो राजा राज्यस्थ: पौरजनावृत आसांचक्रे गुर्वर्थी ब्राह्मण उपेत्याब्रवीद् भो राजन गुर्वर्थ भिक्षेयं समयादिति,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठि!! अब एक-दूसरे क्षत्रिय नरेशका महत्त्व सुनो-- नहुषके पुत्र राजा ययाति जब पुरवासी मनुष्योंसे घिरे हुए राजसिंहासन-पर विराजमान थे, उन्हीं दिनोंकी बात है, एक ब्राह्मण गुरु-दक्षिणा देनेके लिये भिक्षा माँगनेकी इच्छासे उनके पास आकर बोला--'राजन! मैं गुरु-दक्षिणा देनेके लिये भिक्षा चाहता हूँ, किंतु उसके साथ एक शर्त है”
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | idam anyac chṛṇutāṃ—yayātir nāhuṣo rājā rājya-sthaḥ paurajana-āvṛtaḥ | āsāṃ cakre | gurv-arthī brāhmaṇa upetya abravīt—“bho rājan, gurv-arthaṃ bhikṣeyaṃ samayād iti” |
Markandeya said: “Now hear another account—of King Yayati, son of Nahusha. While he sat established in his kingdom, surrounded by the citizens, a Brahmin approached him, seeking means to pay his teacher’s fee. He addressed the king: ‘O King, I ask alms for my guru’s due—but only on a stipulated condition.’”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames kingship as accountable to dharma: a ruler, publicly seated among his people, is tested by requests tied to sacred obligations (guru-dakṣiṇā). It introduces charity not as casual giving but as ethically conditioned giving—where the king must weigh generosity, propriety, and the terms of the request.
Markandeya begins a new exemplum about King Yayati. A Brahmin comes to the king’s court to obtain alms needed for his teacher’s fee and announces that his request includes a specific condition, setting up the moral dilemma that will follow.