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Shloka 120

यक्षने पूछा--परंतप! तुमने मेरे सब प्रश्नोंके उत्तर ठीक-ठीक दे दिये, अब तुम पुरुषकी भी व्याख्या कर दो और यह बताओ कि सबसे बड़ा धनी कौन है? ।। युधिछिर उवाच दिवं स्पृशति भूमिं च शब्द: पुण्येन कर्मणा । यावत्‌ स शब्दो भवति तावत्‌ पुरुष उच्यते,युधिष्ठिर बोले--जिस व्यक्तिके पुण्यकर्मोकी कीर्तिका शब्द जबतक स्वर्ग और भूमिको स्पर्श करता है, तबतक वह पुरुष कहलाता है

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | divaṃ spṛśati bhūmiṃ ca śabdaḥ puṇyena karmaṇā | yāvat sa śabdo bhavati tāvat puruṣa ucyate ||

Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “O bom nome de um homem—nascido de feitos meritórios—toca o céu e a terra. Enquanto essa fama perdurar, enquanto isso ele é verdadeiramente chamado ‘pessoa’ (puruṣa).”

दिवम्heaven
दिवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदिव् (प्रातिपदिक: दिव)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
स्पृशतिtouches
स्पृशति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootस्पृश्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
भूमिम्earth
भूमिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शब्दःfame/renown (lit. sound, report)
शब्दः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुण्येनby merit/virtue
पुण्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
कर्मणाby action/deed
कर्मणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
यावत्as long as / so long as
यावत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयावत्
सःthat/he
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शब्दःfame/renown
शब्दः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भवतिis/exists/continues
भवति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
तावत्so long / till then
तावत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतावत्
पुरुषःa man/person (a worthy person)
पुरुषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उच्यतेis called
उच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (Passive)

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
H
heaven (diva)
E
earth (bhūmi)

Educational Q&A

Human worth is measured ethically: one is truly a ‘puruṣa’ insofar as one’s virtuous deeds generate enduring good repute that benefits and inspires both the worldly and the higher (heavenly) spheres.

In the Yakṣa–Yudhiṣṭhira dialogue, after answering many riddling questions, Yudhiṣṭhira explains what makes someone a ‘puruṣa’: lasting fame grounded in puṇya (merit) and right action.