Shloka 12

मარკण्डेयागमनम् तथा सत्यव्रत-उपदेशः

Arrival of Mārkaṇḍeya and Counsel on Truth-Vows

Devanagari script

चरन्‌ नै:श्रेयसं धर्म प्रजापालनकारितम्‌ | नाध्यगच्छद्‌ बलिलेके तीर्थमन्यत्र वै द्विजात्‌,“राजा बलिको प्रजापालनजनित कल्याणकारी धर्मका आचरण करनेके लिये ब्राह्मणका आश्रय लेनेके सिवा दूसरा कोई उपाय नहीं जान पड़ा था

Transliteration

caran naiḥśreyasaṃ dharmaṃ prajā-pālana-kāritam | nādhyagacchad balileke tīrtham anyatra vai dvijāt |

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「臣民を守り、その安寧をはかることとして現れる、最高の善へ導くダルマを実践しようと努める中で、バリ王は“二度生まれ”の庇護と教え以外に、拠り所も聖なる渡し場（ティールタ）も見いださなかった。」

Word by Word

• चरन्: practising, observing
• चरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नैःश्रेयसम्: leading to the highest good
• नैःश्रेयसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैःश्रेयस
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous duty
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रजापालनकारितम्: caused by the protection of subjects
• प्रजापालनकारितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजापालनकारित
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अध्यगच्छत्: found, came to know, obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-गम्
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथम, एकवचन

• बलिः: Bali (the king)
• बलिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एके: in one (place/way)
• एके: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: नपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तीर्थम्: a sacred resort; means/refuge
• तीर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: नपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere, otherwise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• द्विजात्: from a twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: पुं, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bali (King Bali)
• dvija (Brahmin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the pursuit of niḥśreyasa (the highest good) through righteous governance—especially the protection and welfare of subjects—requires guidance grounded in Brahmanical learning and discipline; a king should seek counsel from the wise rather than rely solely on power or expediency.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes King Bali’s effort to practice a welfare-producing, kingly dharma. In doing so, Bali recognizes that he has no better ‘tīrtha’ (refuge/resource) than turning to a dvija (Brahmin) for direction and support.