Shloka 6

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

केनैष धर्म: कथितो देवेन ऋषिणापि वा

Transliteration

Janamejaya uvāca | kenaiṣa dharmaḥ kathito devena ṛṣiṇāpi vā, bhagavan? asya bhaktirūpasya dharmasya kaḥ devatā vā ṛṣiḥ vā upadeṣṭā? ananya-bhaktānāṃ jīvanacaryā kā? sa ca kadā prācīnaḥ pravṛttaḥ? mama saṃśayaṃ nivāraya; etad-viṣayaṃ śrotuṃ mama manasi mahān autkaṇṭhyaḥ ||

Translation

Dijo Janamejaya: «Venerable señor, ¿quién enseñó este dharma: un dios o un sabio ṛṣi? ¿Quién instruyó por primera vez este dharma cuya propia forma es la devoción (bhakti)? ¿Cuál es el modo de vida de quienes son devotos con lealtad indivisa, y desde cuándo se practica esta tradición? Disipad mi duda; mi mente arde en un vivo anhelo de oír sobre este asunto».

Word by Word

• केन: by whom?
• केन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma; religious duty
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कथितः: told; declared
• कथितः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवेन: by a god
• देवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ऋषिणा: by a sage
• ऋषिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: also; even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• भगवन्: O Blessed Lord!
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Bhagavan (addressed teacher/interlocutor)
• Deva (a god, generic)
• Rishi (a sage, generic)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a doctrinal inquiry: devotion-centered dharma (bhakti-rūpa dharma) is to be understood through its authoritative source (deva or ṛṣi), its practical expression (the conduct of ananya-bhaktas), and its historical continuity (since when it has been practiced).

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janamejaya addresses the revered narrator/teacher and asks for clarification about a tradition of exclusive devotion—who taught it first, how its followers live, and how ancient it is—requesting that his doubt be dispelled due to his strong eagerness to hear.