Shloka 20

मარკण्डेयागमनम् तथा सत्यव्रत-उपदेशः

Arrival of Mārkaṇḍeya and Counsel on Truth-Vows

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणेषूत्तमा वृत्तिस्तव नित्यं युधिष्ठिर । तेन ते सर्वलोकेषु दीप्यते प्रथितं यश:,'युधिष्ठिर! ब्राह्मणोंके प्रति तुम्हारे हृदयमें सदा उत्तम भाव है, इसीलिये सब लोकोंमें तुम्हारा यश विख्यात एवं प्रकाशित है”

Transliteration

brāhmaṇeṣūttamā vṛttis tava nityaṁ yudhiṣṭhira | tena te sarvalokeṣu dīpyate prathitaṁ yaśaḥ ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—యుధిష్ఠిరా! బ్రాహ్మణుల పట్ల నీ ప్రవర్తన నిత్యమూ ఉత్తమమై ఆదర్శప్రాయమై ఉంది; అందువల్లనే సమస్త లోకాలలో నీ ప్రసిద్ధి ప్రకాశిస్తూ వెలుగుతోంది।

Word by Word

ब्राह्मणेषुamong/with regard to Brahmins

उत्तमाexcellent, best

वृत्तिःconduct, disposition, attitude

तवof you, your

नित्यम्always

युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira

तेनby that, therefore

तेyour

सर्वलोकेषुin all worlds

दीप्यतेshines, is resplendent

प्रथितम्renowned, widely known

यशःfame, glory

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Brāhmaṇas

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?

Noble, consistent conduct—especially reverence and proper behavior toward learned and virtuous brāhmaṇas—becomes the foundation of enduring fame. Ethical character, not mere power, is what makes a ruler’s reputation shine across the world.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator Vaiśampāyana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira directly, praising his continual excellence in dealing with brāhmaṇas and explaining that this virtue is the reason Yudhiṣṭhira’s renown is celebrated everywhere.