Shloka 2
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
Devanagari script
कीदृशीषु हावस्थासु दत्त्वा दानं महामुने
Transliteration
kīdṛśīṣu hāvasthāsu dattvā dānaṃ mahāmune
Translation
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O great sage, in what kinds of circumstances and conditions does a gift, once given, truly count as meritorious charity?”
Word by Word
कीदृशीषुin what kind of (states/conditions)
कीदृशीषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootकीदृश
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
अवस्थासुin conditions, situations
अवस्थासु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअवस्था
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदा (दाने)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), non-finite
दानम्a gift, charity
दानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
महामुनेO great sage
महामुने:
TypeNoun
Rootमहामुनि
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśaṃpāyanaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into dāna: merit depends not only on the act of giving but also on the circumstances and the giver’s condition—prompting a discussion on intention, appropriateness, and dharmic context.
In the Vana Parva’s didactic flow, Vaiśaṃpāyana introduces or relays a question to a great sage about the proper conditions under which charity should be given, setting up guidance on righteous giving.