Shloka 45

कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः

Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

लोभमोहपरीताश्च मिथ्याधर्मध्वजावृता: । भिक्षार्थ पृथिवीपाल चज्चूर्यन्ते द्विजैर्दिश:

Transliteration

lobhamohaparītāś ca mithyādharmadhvajāvṛtāḥ | bhikṣārthaṃ pṛthivīpāla ca cūryante dvijair diśaḥ ||

Translation

વૈશમ્પાયન બોલ્યા—હે રાજન! લોભ અને મોહથી ઘેરાયેલા, ખોટા ધર્મનો ધ્વજ ઓઢેલા બ્રાહ્મણો માત્ર ભિક્ષા જ નહીં માગશે; ભિક્ષાના નામે તેઓ સર્વ દિશાઓમાં લોકો પર ત્રાસ અને દમન કરશે।

Word by Word

• लोभ: by greed
• लोभ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मोह: by delusion
• मोह: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• परीताः: surrounded/overcome
• परीताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परीत (परि-इ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• मिथ्या: falsely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या

• धर्म: of dharma/religion
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• ध्वज: with a banner/flag (as a sign)
• ध्वज: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• आवृताः: covered/cloaked
• आवृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आवृत (आ-√वृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भिक्षा: alms
• भिक्षा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थम्: for the sake (of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पृथिवीपाल: O protector of the earth (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी-पाल
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• चूर्यन्ते: are pained/harassed (lit. are robbed/plundered)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चुर् (चोरयति/चुर्यति)
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Plural

• द्विजैः: by the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• दिशः: the directions/regions (people in all quarters)
• दिशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājan (the king addressed)
• dvija (brahmins)
• diśaḥ (the directions/regions)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns religious hypocrisy: when greed and delusion dominate, people may display the outward symbols of dharma while violating its essence, even harming society under a pious pretext. True dharma is measured by conduct and compassion, not by external appearance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and describes a troubling social condition: brahmins, instead of embodying restraint and integrity, will be driven by greed and delusion, adopting the guise of righteousness and troubling people in all regions while seeking alms.