Shloka 11

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

राजन! इसीलिये मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह स्वर्ग-मार्गपर अधिकार पानेकी इच्छासे सभी अवस्थाओंमें (श्रेष्ठ) ब्राह्मणोंको ही सब प्रकारके दान दे

Transliteration

rājan! tasmān manuṣyeṇa svargamārgādhikāraprāptikāmatayā sarvāsv avasthāsu śreṣṭhebhya eva brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sarvaprakāraṃ dānaṃ dātavyam.

Translation

ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಓ ರಾಜನೇ! ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಸ್ವರ್ಗಮಾರ್ಗದ ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ಬಯಸುವ ಮನುಷ್ಯನು, ಜೀವನದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಎಲ್ಲ ವಿಧದ ದಾನಗಳನ್ನು ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ, ಯೋಗ್ಯ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ನೀಡಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

राजन्O king

तस्मात्therefore

मनुष्यःa man/person

इच्छयाwith the desire

स्वर्गमार्गाधिकारप्राप्तिम्attainment of entitlement to the path to heaven

सर्वासुin all

अवस्थासुconditions/states

ब्राह्मणेभ्यःto Brahmins

एवindeed/only

सर्वप्रकाराणिall kinds (of)

दानानिgifts/charities

दद्यात्should give

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

rājan (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity (dāna), when directed to worthy Brahmins and maintained across all life-situations, is presented as a key dharmic means for gaining qualification (adhikāra) for the heavenly path—emphasizing intention, consistency, and proper recipients.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a king and draws a conclusion (“therefore”) from preceding discussion, advising him on the ethical practice of giving: one who desires heavenly attainment should give various forms of gifts to excellent Brahmins in every circumstance.