Shloka 17

Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya

Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa

Devanagari script

महाश्रम उपस्पृश्य योडग्निहोत्रपर: शुचि:

Transliteration

mahāśramam upaspṛśya yo ’gnīhotraparaḥ śuciḥ

Translation

ଅଜଦ୍ରିୟ କହିଲେ— ‘ମହାଶ୍ରମରେ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ଯେ ଶୁଚି ରହେ ଏବଂ ନିତ୍ୟ ଅଗ୍ନିହୋତ୍ରରେ ପରାୟଣ ଥାଏ—ସେଇ ନିୟମିତ ପବିତ୍ରତା ଓ ଧର୍ମନିଷ୍ଠାର ମୂର୍ତ୍ତି।’

Word by Word

• महाश्रमम्: the great hermitage
• महाश्रमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाश्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपस्पृश्य: having touched; after performing ablution (by touching water)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपस्पृश्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as gerund), Non-finite

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्निहोत्रपरः: devoted to the Agnihotra (fire-ritual)
• अग्निहोत्रपरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निहोत्रपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शुचिः: pure; clean
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजड्रिय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ajadriya
• Mahāśrama (great hermitage)
• Agnihotra (fire-offering rite)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma as disciplined observance: ritual purification (upaspṛśya) and steadfast commitment to Agnihotra symbolize inner and outer purity, emphasizing that ethical life is sustained by regular, sincere sacred duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ajadriya describes the conduct of a righteous person in an ascetic-sacrificial context: after purifying himself at a revered hermitage, he remains devoted to maintaining the Agnihotra rite, presenting an ideal of purity and duty-centered living.