Shloka 5

Devanagari script

धर्मज्ञानां मुख्यतमस्तपस्वी संशितव्रत: । आसीन्महर्षि: श्रुत॒वान्‌ मन्दपाल इति श्रुत:,मन्दपाल नामसे विख्यात एक विद्दान्‌ महर्षि थे। वे धर्मज्ञोंमें श्रेष्ठ और कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले तपस्वी थे

Transliteration

dharmajñānāṁ mukhyatamas tapassvī saṁśitavrataḥ | āsīn maharṣiḥ śrutavān mandapāla iti śrutaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “There was a great seer named Mandapāla, renowned for his learning. Among those who knew dharma he was foremost, an austere ascetic, steadfast in well-disciplined vows.”

Word by Word

धर्मज्ञानाम्of the knowers of dharma

मुख्यतमःthe foremost (most chief)

तपस्वीascetic

संशितव्रतःone whose vows are well-observed/firm

आसीत्was

महर्षिःgreat sage

श्रुतवान्learned, well-heard (erudite)

मन्दपालःMandapāla (proper name)

इतिthus

श्रुतःso called/known (heard of)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Mandapāla

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates dharma-informed wisdom and disciplined self-restraint: true eminence is marked not merely by knowledge, but by austerity and unwavering observance of vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana introduces the sage Mandapāla, characterizing him as a celebrated, learned maharṣi—foremost among knowers of dharma and rigorous in ascetic practice—setting the stage for his subsequent story.