Shloka 1

मांसपरिवर्जन-प्रशंसा (Praise of Abstention from Meat) / Ethics of Ahiṃsā in Diet and Rite

Devanagari script

ऑपन-माज (_) अऑपि-्छऋाय द्ादर्शाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: पापसे छूटनेके उपाय तथा अन्नदानकी विशेष महिमा युधिछ्िर उवाच अधर्मस्य गतिर्त्रह्मयम्‌ कथिता मे त्वयानघ । धर्मस्य तु गतिं श्रोतुमिच्छामि वदतां वर,युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--ब्रह्मनन! आपने अधर्मकी गति बतायी। पापरहित वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ! अब मैं धर्मकी गति सुनना चाहता हूँ

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | adharmasya gatir brahman mayā kathitā me tvayānagha | dharmasya tu gatiṃ śrotum icchāmi vadatāṃ vara ||

Translation

युधिष्ठिर उवाच—अधर्मस्य गतिर् ब्रह्मन् कथिता मे त्वयानघ। धर्मस्य तु गतिं श्रोतुमिच्छामि, वदतां वर॥

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'adharma', 'definition': 'unrighteousness

• conduct opposed to moral and sacred order'}, {'term': 'gatiḥ', 'definition': 'course, path, destiny, outcome (especially after death or in moral consequence)'}, {'term': 'brahman', 'definition': 'O Brāhmaṇa

• a respectful address to a learned priest/sage'}, {'term': 'kathitā', 'definition': 'told, explained, narrated'}, {'term': 'tvayā', 'definition': 'by you (instrumental singular)'}, {'term': 'anagha', 'definition': 'sinless, faultless (epithet of a pure/virtuous speaker)'}, {'term': 'dharma', 'definition': 'righteous duty

• sustaining order and right conduct'}, {'term': 'śrotum icchāmi', 'definition': 'I wish to hear'}, {'term': 'vadatāṃ vara', 'definition': 'best among speakers/expounders'}]

Speaker

युधिछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Brāhmaṇa (unnamed interlocutor)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

After hearing the consequences and destination of adharma, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks the corresponding account of dharma—implying that ethical understanding is incomplete without knowing both the downfall caused by wrongdoing and the uplifting course promised by righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In a didactic exchange within the Anuśāsana Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a learned Brāhmaṇa who has just described the fate of adharma; he now requests an exposition of the fate and fruits of dharma.