Shloka 21

Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā

Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution

Devanagari script

ततः परमधर्मात्मा काश्यप: सर्वधर्मवित्‌ । विवादिनावनुप्राप्ती तावुभौ प्रत्यवेदयत्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ paramadharmātmā kāśyapaḥ sarvadharmavit | vivādināv anuprāptī tāv ubhau pratyavedayat

Translation

Then Kāśyapa—supremely righteous and fully conversant with dharma—on the arrival of the two disputants, addressed them both, setting the stage for a fair hearing and a dharma-guided resolution.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: indeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereafter')

• परम्: then/further; next
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परम्
• Form: indeclinable (adverbial use)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• काश्यपः: Kāśyapa
• काश्यपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सर्वधर्मवित्: knower of all dharmas
• सर्वधर्मवित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वधर्मविद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• विवादिनौ: the two disputants
• विवादिनौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवादिन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

• अनुप्राप्तौ: having arrived; come near
• अनुप्राप्तौ: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुप्राप्त
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: उभ
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

• प्रत्यवेदयत्: informed; reported (to someone)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + अव + √विद् (वेदयति)
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

Speaker

गौतम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Kāśyapa
• the two disputants (vivādinau)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is best clarified and applied through an impartial, knowledgeable authority: a true knower of dharma listens to both sides and responds in a way that guides the dispute toward a just resolution.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two disputants arrive before the sage Kāśyapa. Recognized as supremely righteous and learned in dharma, he addresses both of them, initiating the process of hearing and adjudicating their conflict.