Shloka 67

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

जनमेजय उवाच एवं बहुविध॑ धर्म प्रतिबुद्धैर्निषिवितम्‌ । न कुर्वन्ति कथं विप्रा अन्ये नानाव्रते स्थिता:

Transliteration

Janamejaya uvāca: evaṁ bahuvidhaṁ dharmaṁ pratibuddhair niṣevitam | na kurvanti kathaṁ viprā anye nānāvrate sthitāḥ ||

Translation

ଜନମେଜୟ କହିଲେ—ମୁନେ! ଏହି ବହୁବିଧ ଗୁଣସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଧର୍ମକୁ ଜାଗୃତ ଓ ବିବେକୀଜନ ଆଚରଣ କରନ୍ତି; ତେବେ ନାନାବ୍ରତରେ ନିୟୁକ୍ତ ଅନ୍ୟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ଏହାକୁ କାହିଁକି ଆଚରଣ କରୁନାହାନ୍ତି?

Word by Word

• जनमेजयः: Janamejaya
• जनमेजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• बहुविधम्: of many kinds
• बहुविधम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous conduct
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रतिबुद्धैः: by the enlightened/wise
• प्रतिबुद्धैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिबुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• निषेवितम्: practised, followed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निषेवित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• कुर्वन्ति: do, practice
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• कथम्: how, why
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नानाव्रतेषु: in various vows/observances
• नानाव्रतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नानाव्रत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• स्थिताः: standing/engaged, devoted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• viprāḥ (brāhmaṇas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a tension between outward religiosity (many vows and observances) and inward ethical realization (dharma practiced by the truly awakened). It implies that genuine dharma is not guaranteed by ritual discipline alone; it requires understanding and lived integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya, in dialogue with a sage, reflects on a dharma described as noble and practiced by enlightened people. He asks why other brāhmaṇas—despite undertaking many different vows—do not adopt that same dharma in their conduct.