Shloka 231

कुण्डधारोपाख्यानम्

Kuṇḍadhāra-Upākhyāna: Dharma’s Superiority over Wealth and Desire

Devanagari script

एवं बहुविधार्थ च तुलाधारेण भाषितम्‌

Transliteration

evaṁ bahuvidhārtha ca tulādhāreṇa bhāṣitam

Translation

ಈ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿ ತುಲಾಧಾರನು ಬಹುವಿಧ ಅರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನೂ ನೀತಿತಾತ್ಪರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನೂ ವಿವರಿಸಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• बहुविधार्थम्: having many meanings; in a multi-sense way
• बहुविधार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविधार्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तुलाधारेण: by the holder of the balance (i.e., the impartial one)
• तुलाधारेण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलाधार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भाषितम्: was spoken; has been said
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Tulādhāra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That Tulādhāra’s instruction is not a single-point rule but a multi-faceted exposition of dharma—meant to guide ethical judgment across varied situations, emphasizing breadth of understanding and practical application.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, continuing his counsel in the Śānti Parva, summarizes that Tulādhāra has delivered an extensive discourse with many meanings—marking a transition or conclusion of that segment of teaching.