Shloka 35

त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma

Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123

Devanagari script

तमेन॑ ब्रह्मण: पुत्रमनुजातं क्षुपं ददौ । प्रजानामधिपं श्रेष्ठ सर्वधर्मभूतामपि,ब्रह्माजीके छोटे पुत्र क्षुपको उन्होंने समस्त प्रजाओं तथा सम्पूर्ण धर्मधारियोंका श्रेष्ठ अधिपति बना दिया

Transliteration

tam enaṁ brahmaṇaḥ putram anujātaṁ kṣupaṁ dadau | prajānām adhipaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ sarvadharmabhūtām api ||

Translation

ସେ ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଙ୍କ କନିଷ୍ଠ ପୁତ୍ର କ୍ଷୁପଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରଜାମାନଙ୍କର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଅଧିପତି କଲେ; ଧର୍ମଧାରୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଧାନ ରକ୍ଷକ ଭାବେ ସ୍ଥାପନ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एनम्: this (person), him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā / of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुजातम्: born after; younger-born
• अनुजातम्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुजात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षुपम्: Kṣupa (name)
• क्षुपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (Proper name)
• Root: क्षुप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददौ: gave; bestowed
• ददौ: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रजानाम्: of the creatures/subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• अधिपम्: lord; ruler
• अधिपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रेष्ठम्: best; foremost
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वधर्मभूतानाम्: of all those who are established in dharma / of all dharma-bearers
• सर्वधर्मभूतानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun/Adjective (compound)
• Root: सर्व-धर्म-भूत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अपि: also; even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

वसुहरोम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वसुहरोम (Vasuharoma)
• ब्रह्मा (Brahmā)
• क्षुप (Kṣupa)
• प्रजा (subjects/creatures)
• धर्म (dharma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate sovereignty is portrayed as dharma-based stewardship: the best ruler is one who embodies and protects dharma for the welfare of all beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasuharoma recounts a cosmogonic/lineage episode in which Brahmā appoints his younger son Kṣupa as the foremost lord over all creatures, emphasizing the ethical foundation of authority.