Shloka 39
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
Devanagari script
धर्म तु ब्राह्मणस्याहु: स्वाध्यायं दममार्जवम्
Transliteration
dharma tu brāhmaṇasyāhuḥ svādhyāyaṁ damam ārjavam
Translation
The Brahmin said: “They declare that the dharma of a Brahmin is this: devoted study of the sacred texts, self-restraint, and straightforward integrity.”
Word by Word
धर्मम्duty, dharma
धर्मम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तुbut, indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
ब्राह्मणस्यof a Brahmin
ब्राह्मणस्य:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
आहुःthey say, they declare
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPresent, Third, Plural
स्वाध्यायम्self-study (Vedic study/recitation)
स्वाध्यायम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वाध्याय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
दमम्self-control
दमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आर्जवम्straightforwardness, honesty
आर्जवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआर्जव
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Characters & Entities
ब
ब्राह्मण (Brahmin)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
A Brahmin’s dharma is defined by inner and intellectual virtues: svādhyāya (sacred study), dama (self-control), and ārjava (honest, straightforward conduct).
A Brahmin speaker is articulating a normative teaching about Brahminical duty, presenting traditional markers of righteous life rather than describing an external action or event.