Mahabharata 3.201.34 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 34
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
अध्वनि क्षीणगात्राश्न पांसुपादावगुण्ठिता: । तेषामेव श्रमार्तानां यो हान्न॑ं कथयेद् बुध:
adhvani kṣīṇagātrāś ca pāṃsupādāvaguṇṭhitāḥ | teṣām eva śramārtānāṃ yo hānnam kathayed budhaḥ ||
ព្រះមារកណ្ឌេយៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ «នៅលើផ្លូវ ដងខ្លួនអស់កម្លាំង ជើងគ្របដោយធូលី—មនុស្សទាំងនោះត្រូវទុក្ខដោយភាពនឿយហត់។ អ្នកប្រាជ្ញគួរប្រាប់អំពីអាហារ (ហើយឧបត្ថម្ភអាហារ) ដល់ពួកគេ ដើម្បីបំបាត់ទុក្ខបន្ទាន់នោះ»។
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes practical compassion as dharma: when people are visibly exhausted from travel, the wise prioritize immediate relief—especially food—rather than mere words or delay.
Mārkaṇḍeya describes travelers weakened on the road, dust-covered and distressed by fatigue, and instructs that a discerning person should address their need for food—highlighting the duty of care toward those in hardship.
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