Shloka 10
Adhyāya 208: Aṅgirasī-kanyāḥ
Enumeration of Aṅgiras’ daughters and attribute-names
बहुत-से गोपुर, अट्टालिकाएँ, महल और चहारदीवारियाँ उस नगरकी शोभा बढ़ा रही थीं। वह रमणीय पुरी बहुत-से विमानोंसे युक्त थी तथा बहुत-सी दुकानें उस पुरीका सौन्दर्य बढ़ाती थीं। सुन्दर ढंगसे बनायी हुई बड़ी-बड़ी सड़कें शोभा पा रही थीं। बहुसंख्यक घोड़े, रथ, हाथी और सैनिकोंसे संयुक्त मिथिलापुरी हृष्ट-पुष्ट मनुष्योंसे भरी हुई थी। वहाँ नित्य नाना प्रकारके उत्सव होते रहते थे और अनेक प्रकारकी घटनाएँ घटित होती थीं। ब्राह्मणने उस पुरीमें प्रवेश करके सब ओर घूम-घामकर उसे अच्छी तरह देखा ।। धर्मव्याधमपृच्छच्च स चास्य कथितो द्विजै: । अपश्यत् तत्र गत्वा त॑ सूनामध्ये व्यवस्थितम्,वहाँ उसने लोगोंसे धर्मव्याधका पता पूछा और ब्राह्मणोंने उसे उसका स्थान बता दिया। कौशिकने वहाँ जाकर देखा कि तपस्वी धर्मव्याध कसाईखानेमें बैठकर सूअर, भैंसे आदि पशुओंका मांस बेच रहा है। वहाँ ग्राहकोंकी भीड़ लगी हुई थी, इसलिये कौशिक एकान्तमें जाकर खड़ा हो गया
markaṇḍeya uvāca | bahūni gopurāṇy aṭṭālikāś ca prāsādāś ca catuḥprākārāś ca tasya nagarasya śobhāṃ vardhayanti sma | sā ramyā purī bahubhir vimānaiḥ samanvitā bahubhiś ca āpaṇaiḥ śobhitā | susaṃskṛtā mahāpathāḥ śriyaṃ bibhrati sma | bahubhir aśvarathagajapattibhiḥ saṃyuktā mithilā purī hṛṣṭapuṣṭair manuṣyaiḥ paripūrṇā | tatra nityaṃ nānāvidhā utsavāḥ pravartante sma nānāvidhāś ca vṛttāntāḥ prādurbhavanti sma | sa brāhmaṇaḥ purīṃ praviśya sarvataḥ paribhramya tāṃ samyak dadarśa || dharmavyādham apṛcchac ca sa cāsya kathito dvijaiḥ | apaśyat tatra gatvā taṃ sūnāmadhye vyavasthitam ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “That city’s splendor was enhanced by many gateways, lofty towers, palaces, and encircling walls. The delightful capital was furnished with many vimānas, like aerial mansions, and adorned with numerous shops. Broad, well-laid roads shone with beauty. Mithilā, filled with sturdy, cheerful people, was crowded with horses, chariots, elephants, and soldiers. Festivals of many kinds were held there daily, and all manner of events continually occurred. The brāhmaṇa entered the city, wandered about on every side, and examined it well. Then he asked for the ‘Dharma-vyādha’; and the brāhmaṇas told him where he was. Going there, he saw him seated in the midst of a slaughterhouse, selling the flesh of boars, buffaloes, and other animals. Because customers thronged the place, Kauśika stood aside in a secluded spot.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage sets up a key ethical contrast: true dharma is not determined by outward status (ascetic vs butcher) but by right conduct and understanding. The ‘Dharma-vyādha’ embodies righteousness while performing a socially stigmatized occupation, preparing the listener to learn that svadharma and integrity can coexist even in ordinary or impure-seeming work.
Kauśika enters the prosperous city of Mithilā, observes its grandeur and constant festivities, then asks for the Dharma-vyādha. Guided by brāhmaṇas, he finds him in a slaughterhouse selling meat amid a crowd of customers, and Kauśika waits apart in a secluded place.