Shloka 2

त्रिवर्गविचारः

Tri-varga Deliberation: Dharma, Artha, Kāma

Devanagari script

बहुधा दर्शने लोके श्रेयो यदिह मन्यसे । अस्मिल्लोके परे चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह

Transliteration

bahudhā darśane loke śreyo yad iha manyase | asmin loke pare caiva tan me brūhi pitāmaha pitāmaha ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Neste mundo há muitos pontos de vista filosóficos que afirmam definir o que é verdadeiramente benéfico. Dize-me, ó Avô, qual caminho tu mesmo consideras o bem supremo—aquele que traz bem-estar aqui, nesta vida, e também na vida futura.”

Word by Word

• बहुधा: in many ways
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा

• दर्शने: in (the matter of) doctrine/viewpoint; in philosophy
• दर्शने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• श्रेयः: the good; the highest welfare
• श्रेयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यत्: which (thing)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इह: here; in this matter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• मन्यसे: you think/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (मन्यते)
• Form: Present (Lat), Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (अस्मद्-प्रत्ययान्त रूप)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• परे: in the other (world); in the next
• परे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (ब्रवीति)
• Form: Imperative (Lot), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a classic dharma inquiry: amid many competing philosophies, one should seek the path of śreyas—true, lasting welfare—validated not only by worldly benefit but also by its consequences beyond this life. It sets the standard that ethical guidance must be holistic, addressing both immediate life and ultimate destiny.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions Bhīṣma (addressed as Pitāmaha), acknowledging the diversity of doctrines in the world and requesting Bhīṣma’s authoritative guidance on what constitutes the highest good for both this world and the next.