Shloka 48

कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः

Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

आश्रमेषु वृथाचारा: पानपा गुरुतल्पगा: । इह लौकिकमीहन्ते मांसशोणितवर्धनम्‌

Transliteration

āśrameṣu vṛthācārāḥ pānapā gurutalpāgāḥ | iha laukikam īhante māṃsaśoṇitavardhanam ||

Translation

ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಆಶ್ರಮಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ವ್ಯರ್ಥಾಚಾರಿಗಳು ಇರುವರು—ಮದ್ಯಪಾನಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಗುರುವಿನ ಶಯನವನ್ನು ಲಂಘಿಸುವವರು. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಕೇವಲ ಲೋಕಿಕ ಗುರಿಗಳನ್ನೇ ಹಂಬಲಿಸಿ, ಮಾಂಸ-ಶೋಣಿತದ ವೃದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನೇ ಸಾಧನೆ ಎಂದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವರು।

Word by Word

आश्रमेषुin the hermitages

वृथा-आचाराःthose whose conduct is vain/fruitless (hypocritical)

पानपाःdrinkers (habitual drinkers)

गुरुतल्पगाःviolators of the guru's bed (grave sinners)

इहhere (in this world)

लौकिकम्worldly (thing/goal)

ईहन्तेthey strive for / seek

मांस-शोणित-वर्धनम्increase of flesh and blood (bodily growth/nourishment)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns pseudo-ascetic life: even within āśramas, some abandon dharma through intoxication and grave sexual transgression, pursuing bodily and worldly gratification rather than restraint and spiritual aims.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes moral corruption found even in hermitages, highlighting that outward religious settings can conceal unethical behavior and worldly appetites.