Shloka 5

Devanagari script

रड्रावतरणं चैव तथा रूपोपजीवनम्‌ । मद्यमांसोपजीव्यं च विक्रयं लोहचर्मणो:

Transliteration

rudrāvataraṇaṃ caiva tathā rūpopajīvanam | madyamāṃsopajīvyaṃ ca vikrayaṃ lohacarmaṇoḥ ||

Translation

Parāśara dit : «De même, les pratiques liées à la descente de Rudra (ou aux rites de Rudra), et le fait de vivre de l’apparence extérieure ; de même encore, gagner sa vie en trafiquant l’alcool et la viande, et par le commerce du fer et des peaux : telles sont les occupations dites ici moralement blâmables.»

Word by Word

रड्रावतरणम्causing descent/bringing down of Rudra (a ritual/act)

चand

एवindeed/just

तथाlikewise/so

रूपोपजीवनम्livelihood by (one's) beauty/appearance

मद्यमांसोपजीव्यम्that which is lived on by liquor and meat (i.e., livelihood involving liquor/meat)

चand

विक्रयम्sale/selling

लोहचर्मणोःof iron and leather

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

प

पराशर (Parāśara)

र

रुद्र (Rudra)

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 lists certain livelihoods—connected with Rudra-related practices, living by mere outward display, and trading in liquor, meat, iron, and hides—as morally problematic within a dharma framework that values restraint, purity, and non-harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Parāśara is enumerating occupations and behaviors to be avoided or regarded as blameworthy, as part of a broader instruction on righteous conduct and proper means of sustenance.