Shloka 8

Marutta–Indra Rivalry and Bṛhaspati’s Priestly Refusal (मरुत्तेन्द्रस्पर्धा—बृहस्पतेः पौरोहित्यनिश्चयः)

Devanagari script

याज्यस्त्वज्धिरस: पूर्वमासीद्‌ राजा करंधम:

Transliteration

yājyas tv aṅgirasaḥ pūrvam āsīd rājā karaṃdhamaḥ | tasya loke bala-parākrama-sadācāraiḥ samaḥ kaścid na vidyate | sa indra-tulya-tejasvī dharmātmā ca kaṭhora-vrata-pālakaḥ ||

Translation

วยาสะกล่าวว่า “กาลก่อน ผู้เป็นยชามานะ (ผู้อุปถัมภ์พิธีบูชา) แห่งยัญของฤๅษีวงศ์อังคิรส คือพระราชากรันธมะ ในโลกนี้ไม่มีผู้ใดเสมอด้วยพระองค์ทั้งกำลัง กล้าหาญ และความประพฤติชอบ พระองค์รุ่งเรืองดุจอินทร์ ทรงยึดมั่นในธรรม และมั่นคงในการถือพรตอันเคร่งครัด”

Word by Word

• याज्यः: worthy to be sacrificed for / fit to be worshipped (as patron of sacrifice)
• याज्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याज्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अङ्गिरसः: of Aṅgiras (the sage)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गिरस्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पूर्वम्: formerly/before
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम्

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• करन्धमः: Karandhama (proper name)
• करन्धमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: करन्धम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Aṅgirasa (lineage of sages)
• King Karaṃdhama
• Indra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical ideal of kingship: true greatness is measured not only by strength and valor but also by sadācāra (upright conduct), devotion to dharma, and disciplined observance of vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa introduces an earlier exemplar-king, Karaṃdhama, describing him as the sacrificial patron of the Aṅgirasa sages and praising his unmatched power, heroism, and righteousness, setting a moral and historical frame for the surrounding account.