Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अधनो ब्राह्मण: कश्रित्‌ कामाद्‌ू धर्ममवैक्षत । यज्ञार्थ सततोर्डर्थार्थी तपो5तप्यपत दारुणम्‌,किसी समय एक निर्धन ब्राह्मणने सकामभावसे धर्म करनेका विचार किया। वह यज्ञ करनेके लिये सदा ही धनकी इच्छा रखता था, अत: बड़ी कठोर तपस्या करने लगा

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca — adhano brāhmaṇaḥ kaścit kāmād dharmam avekṣata | yajñārthaṃ satato ’rthārthī tapo ’tapyata dāruṇam ||

Translation

Bhishma dijo: «Hubo una vez un brahmán pobre que, movido por el deseo, resolvió seguir el dharma. Anhelando sin cesar riquezas para celebrar un sacrificio (yajña), emprendió una austeridad terriblemente severa.»

Word by Word

अधनःpoor, without wealth

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

कश्चित्a certain (one), someone

कामात्from desire; out of desire

धर्मम्dharma, righteous conduct

अवैक्षतhe considered; he looked towards/undertook

यज्ञार्थम्for the sake of a sacrifice

सततःalways, constantly

अर्थार्थीdesiring wealth (money-seeking)

तपःausterity, penance

अतप्यतhe performed austerity; he did penance

दारुणम्severe, harsh

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

a poor Brahmin

yajña (sacrifice)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how the pursuit of dharma can be complicated when it is propelled by kāma (desire). Even a religious aim like performing a yajña may become ethically ambiguous if one’s inner motive is primarily craving for wealth; it invites reflection on purity of intention versus outwardly pious action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma introduces a story: a poor Brahmin, wanting to perform a sacrifice but lacking resources, becomes intensely focused on acquiring wealth and therefore undertakes severe austerities to obtain the means.