Shloka 25

मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः

Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities

Devanagari script

शिलवृत्तिस्वाच के देश:के जनपदा: के55श्रमा: के च पर्वता: । प्रकृष्टा: पुण्यत: काश्न ज्ञेया नद्यस्तदुच्यताम्‌

Transliteration

śīlavṛttiḥ svāca: ke deśāḥ ke janapadāḥ ke āśramāḥ ke ca parvatāḥ | prakṛṣṭāḥ puṇyataḥ kāś ca jñeyā nadyaḥ tad ucyatām ||

Translation

Vị Bà-la-môn sống theo hạnh nghiêm cẩn thưa hỏi: “Bạch đấng Bà-la-môn, những xứ sở nào, những quốc độ nào, những đạo tràng (āśrama) nào, những núi non nào và những dòng sông nào nên được xem là bậc nhất về phương diện công đức thiêng liêng? Xin Ngài chỉ dạy.”

Word by Word

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देशाः: countries/regions
• देशाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जनपदाः: provinces/territories
• जनपदाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आश्रमाः: hermitages/āśramas
• आश्रमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• के: which (ones)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पर्वताः: mountains
• पर्वताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रकृष्टाः: excellent/supreme
• प्रकृष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पुण्यतः: in terms of merit/holiness
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुण्य

• काश्च: and which (feminine things)
• काश्च: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: का + च
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ज्ञेयाः: to be known/considered
• ज्ञेयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• नद्यः: rivers
• नद्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उच्यताम्: let it be said / please tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Imperative (loṭ), Passive, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• śīlavṛtti (a disciplined-living Brahmin)
• deśa (regions)
• janapada (kingdoms)
• āśrama (hermitages)
• parvata (mountains)
• nadī (rivers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as connected to sacred geography: certain lands, hermitages, mountains, and rivers are traditionally regarded as especially merit-giving, and knowing them supports pilgrimage, vows, and disciplined living.

What is happening in the narrative?

A disciplined Brahmin questions Bhishma about which places—regions, kingdoms, hermitages, mountains, and rivers—are considered most holy and merit-bestowing, requesting an authoritative listing.