Shloka 20

Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka

Book 14, Chapter 43

Devanagari script

अत ऊर्ध्व॑ प्रवक्ष्यामि नियतं धर्मलक्षणम्‌

Transliteration

ata ūrdhvaṁ pravakṣyāmi niyataṁ dharma-lakṣaṇam | ahiṁsā sarva-śreṣṭho dharmaḥ hiṁsā cādharmalakṣaṇam | prakāśo devatānāṁ lakṣaṇaṁ yajñādi-karma manuṣyāṇāṁ lakṣaṇam ||

Translation

ವಾಯು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಇನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸುವ ನಿಶ್ಚಿತ ಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳನ್ನು ನಾನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಅಹಿಂಸೆಯೇ ಪರಮ ಧರ್ಮ; ಹಿಂಸೆಯೇ ಅಧರ್ಮದ ಲಕ್ಷಣ. ದೇವತೆಗಳ ಲಕ್ಷಣ ಪ್ರಕಾಶ; ಮನುಷ್ಯರ ಲಕ್ಷಣ ಕರ್ಮ—ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಯಜ್ಞಾದಿ ವಿಧಿಕರ್ಮಗಳು.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore, hence
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः

• ऊर्ध्वम्: further, thereafter (lit. upwards)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall declare
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Lṛṭ (simple future), 1st, singular, Parasmaipada

• नियतं: fixed, prescribed
• नियतं: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• धर्मलक्षणम्: the characteristic/mark of dharma
• धर्मलक्षणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मलक्षण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Devatāḥ (gods)
• Manuṣyāḥ (human beings)
• Yajña (sacrifice/ritual)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines dharma by its distinguishing marks: ahiṁsā (non-violence) is upheld as the supreme form of dharma, while hiṁsā (violence) is identified as the hallmark of adharma. It also contrasts divine and human spheres: gods are characterized by radiance, whereas humans are characterized by performing yajña and related prescribed rites.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is speaking as a moral instructor, announcing that he will set forth an authoritative description of dharma’s defining characteristics. The statement functions as a doctrinal clarification within the Ashvamedhika Parva’s broader post-war ethical and religious reflections.