Shloka 51

Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)

Devanagari script

तैश्नोक्तो यज्ञियान्‌ देशान्‌ धर्मारण्यं तथैव च । जुगुप्समानो धावन्‌ स तं यज्ञं समुपासदत्‌

Transliteration

taiś cokto yajñiyān deśān dharmāraṇyaṃ tathaiva ca | jugupsamāno dhāvan sa taṃ yajñaṃ samupāsadat ||

Translation

ସେମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ହିଁ ସେ ଯଜ୍ଞସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ସ୍ଥାନଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଓ ଧର୍ମାରଣ୍ୟର ସମ୍ବାଦ ପାଇଲା। ଧର୍ମରାଜଙ୍କ ଯଜ୍ଞକୁ ନିନ୍ଦା କରିବା ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟରେ ଘୃଣାରେ ପ୍ରେରିତ ହୋଇ ସେ ନେଉଳ ଦୌଡ଼ି ଯାଇ ସେହି ଯଜ୍ଞରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା।

Word by Word

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, plural

• उक्तः: having been told
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• यज्ञियान्: sacrificial, pertaining to the sacrifice
• यज्ञियान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञिय
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• देशान्: places, regions
• देशान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• धर्मारण्यं: the Dharma-forest (forest of righteousness)
• धर्मारण्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मारण्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• जुगुप्समानः: despising, censuring
• जुगुप्समानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• धावन्: running
• धावन्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धाव्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• यज्ञं: sacrifice
• यज्ञं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• समुपासदत्: approached, came near
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-सद्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• mongoose (nakula)
• Dharmāraṇya
• yajña (sacrifice)
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up an ethical critique: mere grandeur of ritual does not guarantee moral superiority; intention and true righteousness can be questioned, and even a celebrated sacrifice may be subjected to scrutiny.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mongoose, having learned the locations connected with the sacrifice and the place called Dharmāraṇya, runs to Yudhiṣṭhira’s sacrificial arena with a disparaging purpose, intending to denounce or undermine the rite.