Shloka 44

कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः

Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मवध्यानुलिप्तानां तथा मिथ्याभिशंसिनाम्‌ । नृपाणां पृथिवीपाल प्रतिगृह्नन्ति वै द्विजा:,जनेश्वर! युगान्तकालमें गायोंके थनोंमें बहुत कम दूध होगा। वृक्षपर फल और फूल बहुत कम होंगे और उनपर (अच्छे पक्षियोंकी अपेक्षा) कौए ही अधिक बसेरे लेंगे। भूपाल! ब्राह्मणगलोग (लोभवश) ब्रह्महत्या-जैसे पापोंसे लिप्त और मिथ्यावादी नरेशोंसे ही दान- दक्षिणा लेंगे

Transliteration

brahmavadhyānuliptānāṁ tathā mithyābhiśaṁsinām | nṛpāṇāṁ pṛthivīpāla pratigṛhṇanti vai dvijāḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «О хранитель земли, брахманы и впрямь будут принимать дары от царей, запятнанных скверной брахмахатьи (brahma-hatyā), и от клеветников, лживо говорящих. Это — знак нравственного упадка века: даже те, кому надлежит хранить дхарму, запутываются в жадности и уступках, а правители с нечистым поведением всё ещё обретают религиозное оправдание через покровительство и подношения».

Word by Word

ब्रह्मवध्याby/with brahma-hatya (killing of a Brahmin; a grave sin)

अनुलिप्तानाम्of those smeared/tainted (with)

तथाand likewise

मिथ्याfalsely

अभिशंसिनाम्of slanderers/false accusers

नृपाणाम्of kings

पृथिवीपालO protector of the earth (king)

प्रतिगृह्नन्तिaccept/receive (gifts)

वैindeed

द्विजाःBrahmins (lit. twice-born)

जनेश्वरO lord of men

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

dvijāḥ (Brahmins)

nṛpāṇām (kings/rulers)

pṛthivīpāla (addressed king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that social and religious order collapses when spiritual authorities accept patronage from unethical rulers. Greed and dependence on tainted wealth normalize grave sins (like brahma-hatyā) and falsehood, undermining dharma from both the throne and the altar.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes symptoms of an age of decline: rulers become sinful and deceitful, yet still obtain religious legitimacy because Brahmins accept their gifts. The statement functions as a moral diagnosis of deteriorating standards in governance and priestly integrity.