Shloka 19

मარკण्डेयागमनम् तथा सत्यव्रत-उपदेशः

Arrival of Mārkaṇḍeya and Counsel on Truth-Vows

Devanagari script

अलब्धलाभाय च लब्धवृद्धये यथाह्तीर्थप्रतिपादनाय । यशस्विनं वेदविदं विपक्षितं बहुश्रुतं ब्राह्मणमेव वासय,“राजन! अप्राप्तकी प्राप्ति और प्राप्तकी वृद्धिके लिये यथायोग्य उपाय बतानेके निमित्त तुम अपने यहाँ यशस्वी, बहुश्रुत एवं वेदज्ञ विद्वान्‌ ब्राह्मणफो बसाओ

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | alabdhalābhāya ca labdhavṛddhaye yathāh tīrthapratipādanāya | yaśasvinaṃ vedavidaṃ vipakṣitaṃ bahuśrutaṃ brāhmaṇam eva vāsaya |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O king, in order to gain what has not yet been gained, to increase what has already been obtained, and to have the proper means and sacred duties rightly indicated, keep in your household a Brahmin—renowned, learned in the Vedas, discerning, and widely heard (in sacred lore).”

Word by Word

अलब्धलाभायfor the gain of what has not been gained

चand

लब्धवृद्धयेfor the increase of what has been gained

यथाas, according to

अर्थmeans, purpose, benefit

तीर्थright means/expedient; (lit.) ford, sacred means

प्रतिपादनायfor explaining/setting forth

यशस्विनम्renowned, illustrious

वेदविदम्knower of the Veda

विपक्षितम्well-examined, well-considered/learned

बहुश्रुतम्much-heard; very learned

ब्राह्मणम्a Brahmin

एवindeed, just

वासयcause to dwell; settle (him)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

rājan (the king, addressee)

brāhmaṇa (learned Brahmin)

Veda

tīrtha

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king should secure righteous prosperity by keeping close the guidance of a truly learned and discerning Brahmin, who can prescribe proper means—especially regarding dharma, rites, and sacred observances—so that both new gains and the growth of existing welfare occur in a lawful way.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana delivers counsel to a king, recommending that he establish (house/support) an eminent Veda-knowing Brahmin at his residence or court, so that correct religious procedures and appropriate measures (including matters connected with tīrthas and merit) can be taught and implemented.