Shloka 119

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

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु राजेन्द्र प्रत्युवाच महायशा: । भगवन्‌ श्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रधानविधिमुत्तमम्‌,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! मार्कण्डेयजीके ऐसा कहनेपर महायशस्वी युधिष्ठिर बोले--'भगवन्‌! अब मैं (दानकी) उत्तम एवं प्रधान विधि सुनना चाहता हूँ”

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca evam uktas tu rājendra pratyuvāca mahāyaśāḥ | bhagavan śrotum icchāmi pradhāna-vidhim uttamam ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。かく告げられると、王の中の最上よ、名高きユディシュティラは答えた。「尊き御方よ、いま私は布施（ダーナ）の儀に関する、最も卓越した根本の作法—主たる規則—をお聞きしたい。」

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

तुbut/indeed

राजेन्द्रO best of kings

प्रत्युवाचreplied

महायशाःthe greatly renowned one

भगवन्O venerable sir

श्रोतुम्to hear

इच्छामिI wish/desire

प्रधान-विधिम्the principal procedure/rite

उत्तमम्excellent/supreme

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Mārkaṇḍeya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as something to be learned through proper injunction (vidhi): Yudhiṣṭhira seeks the ‘foremost’ and ‘excellent’ procedure for dāna, implying that ethical giving is not merely intention but also right method, guided by sages.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Mārkaṇḍeya has spoken, Yudhiṣṭhira responds respectfully, requesting further instruction—specifically, the principal rules for the practice of giving. Vaiśampāyana narrates this exchange to King Janamejaya.