Shloka 88

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

दुर्वेदा वा सुवेदा वा प्राकृता: संस्कृतास्तथा । ब्राह्मणा नावमन्तव्या भस्मच्छन्ञा इवाग्नय:,ब्राह्मण अच्छी तरह वेद पढ़े हों या न पढ़े हों, उत्तम संस्कारोंसे युक्त हों या प्राकृत मनुष्योंकी भाँति संस्कारशून्य हों, उनका अपमान नहीं करना चाहिये; क्योंकि वे राखमें छिपी हुई अताके समान हैं

Transliteration

durvedā vā suvedā vā prākṛtāḥ saṃskṛtās tathā | brāhmaṇā nāvamantavyā bhasmacchannā ivāgnayaḥ ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Whether Brahmins are poorly learned in the Veda or well learned, whether they are refined by good conduct or appear uncultivated like ordinary people, they must not be treated with contempt; for they are like fires hidden beneath ashes.”

Word by Word

दुर्वेदाःpoorly learned in the Veda

वाor

सुवेदाःwell learned in the Veda

वाor

प्राकृताःuncultured / ordinary

संस्कृताःrefined / well-cultured

तथाlikewise / so too

ब्राह्मणाःBrahmins

नnot

अवमन्तव्याःto be disrespected (i.e., should be disrespected)

भस्मच्छन्नाःcovered with ash

इवlike / as

अग्नयःfires

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Brāhmaṇas

Fire (agni)

Ash (bhasma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should not despise Brahmins based on outward appearance, imperfect learning, or seemingly uncultivated behavior; their status and potential spiritual power are compared to fire concealed under ash—still capable of burning when provoked.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva discourse context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a dharmic principle of restraint and reverence: regardless of a Brahmin’s visible qualifications, one must avoid contempt or insult, emphasizing the danger and impropriety of disrespect.