Shloka 11

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

राजन! इसीलिये मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह स्वर्ग-मार्गपर अधिकार पानेकी इच्छासे सभी अवस्थाओंमें (श्रेष्ठ) ब्राह्मणोंको ही सब प्रकारके दान दे

Transliteration

rājan! tasmān manuṣyeṇa svargamārgādhikāraprāptikāmatayā sarvāsv avasthāsu śreṣṭhebhya eva brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sarvaprakāraṃ dānaṃ dātavyam.

Translation

Markandeya said: “O King, therefore a person who seeks the right to tread the path to heaven should, in every condition of life, give all kinds of gifts specifically to worthy Brahmins.”

Word by Word

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

• तस्मात्: therefore
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्

• मनुष्यः: a man/person
• मनुष्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इच्छया: with the desire
• इच्छया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्वर्गमार्गाधिकारप्राप्तिम्: attainment of entitlement to the path to heaven
• स्वर्गमार्गाधिकारप्राप्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्गमार्गाधिकारप्राप्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वासु: in all
• सर्वासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• अवस्थासु: conditions/states
• अवस्थासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सर्वप्रकाराणि: all kinds (of)
• सर्वप्रकाराणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वप्रकार
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• दानानि: gifts/charities
• दानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• rājan (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity (dāna), when directed to worthy Brahmins and maintained across all life-situations, is presented as a key dharmic means for gaining qualification (adhikāra) for the heavenly path—emphasizing intention, consistency, and proper recipients.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a king and draws a conclusion (“therefore”) from preceding discussion, advising him on the ethical practice of giving: one who desires heavenly attainment should give various forms of gifts to excellent Brahmins in every circumstance.