Shloka 25

मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः

Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities

Devanagari script

शिलवृत्तिस्वाच के देश:के जनपदा: के55श्रमा: के च पर्वता: । प्रकृष्टा: पुण्यत: काश्न ज्ञेया नद्यस्तदुच्यताम्‌

Transliteration

śīlavṛttiḥ svāca: ke deśāḥ ke janapadāḥ ke āśramāḥ ke ca parvatāḥ | prakṛṣṭāḥ puṇyataḥ kāś ca jñeyā nadyaḥ tad ucyatām ||

Translation

Le brahmane menant une vie d’austère discipline demanda : « Ô brahmane, quelles contrées et quels royaumes, quels ermitages, quelles montagnes et quels fleuves doivent être tenus pour les plus éminents au regard du mérite sacré ? Je t’en prie, dis-le-moi. »

Word by Word

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देशाः: countries/regions
• देशाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जनपदाः: provinces/territories
• जनपदाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आश्रमाः: hermitages/āśramas
• आश्रमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रकृष्टाः: excellent/supreme
• प्रकृष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पुण्यतः: in terms of merit/holiness
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुण्य

• काश्च: and which (feminine things)
• काश्च: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: का + च
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ज्ञेयाः: to be known/considered
• ज्ञेयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उच्यताम्: let it be said / please tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), Passive, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• śīlavṛtti (a disciplined-living Brahmin)
• deśa (regions)
• janapada (kingdoms)
• āśrama (hermitages)
• parvata (mountains)
• nadī (rivers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as connected to sacred geography: certain lands, hermitages, mountains, and rivers are traditionally regarded as especially merit-giving, and knowing them supports pilgrimage, vows, and disciplined living.

What is happening in the narrative?

A disciplined Brahmin questions Bhishma about which places—regions, kingdoms, hermitages, mountains, and rivers—are considered most holy and merit-bestowing, requesting an authoritative listing.