Shloka 1

Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)

Devanagari script

/ (दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल १०७ श्लोक हैं) अपना छा अर: 2 सप्तविशो<्ध्याय: ब्राह्मणत्वके लिये तपस्या करनेवाले मतड़की इन्द्रसे बातचीत युधिछिर उवाच प्रज्ञाश्रुताभ्यां वृत्तेन शीलेन च यथा भवान्‌ | गुणैश्व विविधै: सर्वर्वयसा च समन्वित:

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | prajñāśrutābhyāṁ vṛttena śīlena ca yathā bhavān | guṇaiś ca vividhaiḥ sarvair vayasa ca samanvitaḥ ||

Translation

Юдхиштхира сказал: «О царь среди людей, лучший из праведных! Ты наделён разумением и учёностью, прямотой поведения и благонравием, украшен множеством добродетелей и превосходишь всех возрастом. Поскольку ты отличаешься мудростью, прозрением и подвижничеством (тапасом), я вопрошаю тебя о дхарме. В этом мире, кроме тебя, нет иного, у кого можно было бы спросить обо всех видах вопросов».

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• प्रज्ञा: by wisdom/intelligence
• प्रज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• श्रुता: by learning/what is heard (scriptural learning)
• श्रुता: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अभ्याम्: by (the two)
• अभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि (द्विवचन-प्रत्ययः -भ्याम्)
• Form: Instrumental/Dative/Ablative dual ending used with the two preceding instrumentals

• वृत्तेन: by conduct/behavior
• वृत्तेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शीलेन: by character/disposition
• शीलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• यथा: as/how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुणैः: with virtues/qualities
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सर्वैः: all
• सर्वैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वयसा: by age (i.e., in age/with age)
• वयसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• समन्वितः: endowed/possessed (of)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अन्वि- (समन्वित, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma-inquiry as grounded in the authority of lived virtue: true guidance is sought from one who unites wisdom (prajñā), learning (śruta), ethical conduct (vṛtta), good character (śīla), and mature experience (vayas).

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully addresses an elder, praising his virtues and seniority, and declares his intention to ask comprehensive questions about dharma, presenting the addressee as uniquely qualified to answer.