Shloka 3

Yājñavalkya on the Sources of Dharma and the Saṁskāras of the Twice-Born

Devanagari script

याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच / यस्मिन्देशे मृगः कृष्णस्तस्मिन्धर्मान्निबोधत / पुराणन्यायमीमांसाधर्मशास्त्राङ्गमिश्रिताः

Transliteration

yājñavalkya uvāca / yasmindeśe mṛgaḥ kṛṣṇastasmindharmānnibodhata / purāṇanyāyamīmāṃsādharmaśāstrāṅgamiśritāḥ

Translation

యాజ్ఞవల్క్యుడు పలికెను—ఏ దేశములో కృష్ణమృగము కనబడునో, ఆ దేశములో ధర్మబోధను గ్రహించుడి; ఆ ధర్మము పురాణ, న్యాయ, మీమాంసా మరియు ధర్మశాస్త్రాంగములతో మిశ్రమమైనది।

Word by Word

• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Yājñavalkya
• याज्ञवल्क्यः: Karta (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञवल्क्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देशे: in the region/country
• देशे: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मृगः: deer/antelope
• मृगः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृष्णः: black
• कृष्णः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying) मृगः

• तस्मिन्: in that (place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Reference/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मान्: duties/dharma-principles
• धर्मान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निबोधत: understand/learn
• निबोधत: Kriya (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु) + नि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• पुराण-न्याय-मीमांसा-धर्मशास्त्र-अङ्ग-मिश्रिताः: mixed/combined with Purāṇa, Nyāya, Mīmāṃsā, Dharmaśāstra and its auxiliaries
• पुराण-न्याय-मीमांसा-धर्मशास्त्र-अङ्ग-मिश्रिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + मीमांसा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्मशास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मिश्रित (कृदन्त; मिश्र् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासान्त-पद, विशेषण (qualifying) धर्मान् (as ‘those dharmas’)

Speaker

Yājñavalkya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is to be known in a proper dharmic milieu and is understood through a synthesis of Purāṇa, Nyāya, Mīmāṃsā, and Dharmaśāstra-auxiliaries.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-prāmāṇya and adhikāra: right context and right means of knowledge support right conduct; harmony of smṛti-purāṇa with reasoning and ritual hermeneutics.

Application: Seek dharma-guidance from recognized śāstric traditions and competent teachers; evaluate practices by scriptural coherence (purāṇa + mīmāṃsā) and sound reasoning (nyāya), not by mere local custom.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: dharmadeśa marker (cultural-ritual geography)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Ācāra sections): discussions on deśa-kāla-pātra in dāna and śrāddha contexts; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: emphasis on śāstra-guided conduct to avoid pāpa and naraka outcomes

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya
• Kṛṣṇa-mṛga (black antelope)
• Purāṇa
• Nyāya
• Mīmāṁsā
• Dharmaśāstra

FAQs

What is the importance of the black antelope (kṛṣṇa-mṛga) in Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the presence of the black antelope as a traditional marker of a land where Dharma is properly known and taught—signifying a region aligned with Vedic practice and scriptural learning.

How does this verse define the sources of Dharma?

It presents Dharma as a composite tradition—understood through Purāṇic teaching, logical reasoning (Nyāya), Vedic interpretation (Mīmāṁsā), and Dharmaśāstra with its supporting disciplines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study and practice Dharma through multiple complementary lenses—scripture, reason, and ethical law—rather than relying on a single source or a purely literal reading.