Shloka 2

Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum

Udyoga-parva 35

Devanagari script

चरन्तं हंसरूपेण महर्षि संशितव्रतम्‌ । साध्या देवा महाप्राज्ञं पर्यपृच्छन्त वै पुरा

Transliteration

carantaṃ haṃsarūpeṇa maharṣiṃ saṃśitavratam | sādhya devā mahāprājñaṃ paryapṛcchanta vai purā ||

Translation

ప్రాచీనకాలంలో దృఢవ్రతుడైన మహాప్రాజ్ఞ మహర్షి దత్తాత్రేయుడు హంస (పరమహంస) రూపంలో సంచరిస్తుండెను. ఆ సమయంలో సాధ్యదేవతలు ఆ పరమజ్ఞానిని సమీపించి ధర్మమార్గం మరియు పరమతత్త్వం గురించి ప్రశ్నించారు.

Word by Word

• चरन्तम्: wandering, moving about
• चरन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हंसरूपेण: in the form of a swan
• हंसरूपेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंसरूप
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महर्षिम्: the great sage
• महर्षिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संशितव्रतम्: of well-sharpened/strict vows
• संशितव्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत
• Form: क्त (भूतकृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• साध्याः: the Sādhyas (a class of gods)
• साध्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महाप्राज्ञम्: the very wise
• महाप्राज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पर्यपृच्छन्: asked (repeatedly / all around)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada, परि-

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient times
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mahārṣi (unnamed in the verse; traditionally identified in this episode as Dattātreya in some recensions/retellings)
• Sādhya Devas
• Haṃsa (paramahaṃsa form)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as something approached through humble inquiry: even divine beings seek instruction from a sage who embodies disciplined vows and higher discernment, suggesting that ethical clarity arises from wisdom, restraint, and asking the right questions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura introduces an ancient episode: a great sage, moving about in the symbolic haṃsa/paramahaṃsa form, is approached by the Sādhya gods, who question him—setting up a didactic dialogue meant to illuminate right conduct and higher truth.