Shloka 36
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
Devanagari script
यथाशक्ति च यो दद्यादन्नं विप्रेषु संस्कृतम्
Transliteration
yathāśakti ca yo dadyād annaṃ vipreṣu saṃskṛtam
Translation
ആർ തന്റെ ശേഷിയനുസരിച്ച് ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു വിധിപൂർവം തയ്യാറാക്കിയ അന്നം നൽകുന്നുവോ, അവൻ ധർമ്മാനുസൃതമായ ദാനവൃത്തി പാലിക്കുകയും പവിത്ര അതിഥികളെ യഥോചിതമായി ആദരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു।
Word by Word
यथाas, according to
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
शक्तिability, capacity
शक्ति:
TypeNoun
Rootशक्ति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
यःwho (he who)
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दद्यात्should give
दद्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अन्नम्food
अन्नम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्न
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विप्रेषुto/among Brahmins
विप्रेषु:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
संस्कृतम्prepared, well-cooked, refined
संस्कृतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसंस्कृत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
MārkaṇḍeyaV
vipra (Brahmins)A
anna (food)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Give in proportion to your capacity (yathāśakti) and offer food respectfully and properly prepared; ethical giving is measured by sincerity and appropriateness, not extravagance.
Mārkaṇḍeya is instructing on dharma by highlighting a concrete practice—feeding Brahmins with duly prepared food—as a model of righteous generosity and hospitality.