Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

श्रोत्रियाय दरिद्राय गृहस्थायाग्निहोत्रिणे | पुत्रदाराभिभूताय तथा हानुपकारिणे,दान लेनेवाला ब्राह्मण श्रोत्रिय हो, निर्धन हो, गृहस्थ हो, नित्य अग्निहोत्र करता हो, दरिद्रताके कारण जिसे स्त्री और पुत्रोंके तिरस्कार सहने पड़ते हों तथा दाताने न तो जिससे प्रत्युपकार प्राप्त किया हो और न आगे प्रत्युपकार प्राप्त होनेकी सम्भावना ही हो

Transliteration

śrotriyāya daridrāya gṛhasthāyāgnihotriṇe | putradārābhibhūtāya tathā hānupakāriṇe ||

Translation

マールカンデーヤは言った。「布施は、真にヴェーダに通じたバラモン（シュロートリヤ）で、貧しく、家長として規律ある生活を送り、日々アグニホートラを守る者に与えるべきである。さらに、妻子の重荷に圧され、貧しさゆえに彼らの非難を耐え忍ぶ者、そして施者がこれまで何の返礼も受けず、将来もまた返礼を期待し得ない者に与えるべきである。」

Word by Word

श्रोत्रियायto a learned (Veda-knowing) Brahmin

दरिद्रायto a poor man

गृहस्थायto a householder

अग्निहोत्रिणेto an Agnihotra-performer

पुत्रsons

दारwife/wives (family)

अभिभूतायto one oppressed/overpowered

तथाand likewise

अनुपकारिणेto one who does not (or cannot) render a return service

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

śrotriya brāhmaṇa

Agnihotra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity is most meritorious when directed to a worthy, Veda-learned but impoverished householder who maintains sacred duties, especially when the gift is given without expectation of any return.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is instructing his listeners on the proper recipient of dāna, describing the ideal beneficiary: a learned yet poor Agnihotra-performing householder burdened by family hardship and unable to repay the donor.