Shloka 67

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

द्विजपादोदकक्लिन्ना यावत्‌ तिष्ठति मेदिनी । तावत्‌ पुष्करपर्णेन पिबन्ति पितरो जलम्‌,ब्राह्मणोंके चरण पखारनेके जलसे जबतक पृथ्वी भीगी रहती है, तबतक पितरलोग कमलके पत्तेसे जल पीते हैं

Transliteration

dvijapādodakaklinnā yāvat tiṣṭhati medinī | tāvat puṣkaraparṇena pibanti pitaro jalam ||

Translation

Hangga’t ang lupa ay nananatiling basa sa tubig na ipinanghugas sa paa ng isang Brahmin, sa gayong tagal din umiinom ang mga Pitṛ (mga ninuno) ng tubig na iyon, na wari’y mula sa dahon ng lotus.

Word by Word

द्विजपादोदकक्लिन्नाwetted/soaked by the water (used) for the feet of Brahmins

यावत्as long as

तिष्ठतिremains, stands

मेदिनीthe earth

तावत्so long, for that long

पुष्करपर्णेनwith a lotus-leaf

पिबन्तिdrink

पितरःthe ancestors (pitṛs)

जलम्water

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Pitṛs (ancestors)

brāhmaṇa (dvija)

earth (medinī)

lotus leaf (puṣkara-parṇa)

water used for washing feet (pādodaka)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Respect shown to worthy persons—especially brāhmaṇas and guests—creates lasting spiritual benefit; even a simple act like offering water for washing feet is portrayed as directly nourishing the ancestors, emphasizing continuity of duty across generations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a dharma-based belief: the water from washing a brāhmaṇa’s feet remains efficacious while it still moistens the ground, during which time the Pitṛs are said to partake of it—highlighting the unseen fruits of righteous conduct.