Shloka 36
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
अग्न्याधेयानि गुर्वर्थ क्रतूनपि सुदक्षिणान् । ददात्यहरह: पूर्व को नु धर्मरतस्तत:
agnyādheyāni gurvarthaṃ kratūn api sudakṣiṇān | dadāty aharahaḥ pūrvaḥ ko nu dharmaratas tataḥ ||
Arjuna disse: “Quem poderia ser mais devotado ao dharma do que aquele que, dia após dia, primeiro traz os gravetos de oferenda (samidhā) para o fogo sagrado de seu mestre (agnihotra) e, em seguida, continua a realizar sacrifícios munidos de excelentes dakṣiṇā e a conceder dádivas? Tal pessoa põe o serviço ao guru e a sustentação dos ritos sagrados acima de tudo.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma as expressed through disciplined daily duty: serving one’s teacher first (guru-sevā) and sustaining sacred obligations through properly supported sacrifice and generous giving. It presents ritual responsibility and charity, grounded in reverence for the guru, as a high model of righteousness.
Arjuna poses a rhetorical question praising a person who daily brings fuel for the guru’s fire-rite and then performs well-endowed sacrifices and gifts. The point is to highlight an exemplary dharmic lifestyle—prioritizing service and religious duty—within the broader Shanti Parva discussion on conduct and righteousness.