Shloka 29

त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma

Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123

Devanagari script

अपां राज्येडसुराणां च विदधे वरुणं प्रभुम्‌ मृत्युं प्राणेश्वरमथो तेजसां च हुताशनम्‌

Transliteration

apāṃ rājyed asurāṇāṃ ca vidadhe varuṇaṃ prabhum | mṛtyuṃ prāṇeśvaram atho tejasāṃ ca hutāśanam ||

Translation

Vasuharoma nói: Ngài lập Varuṇa làm chủ tể của thủy giới và của cõi quyền lực Asura; đặt Tử thần làm chúa tể của sinh khí; và trao cho Thần Lửa (Hutāśana) quyền cai quản ánh sáng cùng năng lực. Đoạn này nhấn mạnh trật tự đạo lý của vũ trụ: các quyền năng không hề tùy tiện, mà là những chức vị được giao phó để thế gian vận hành trong chính trị và tiết chế.

Word by Word

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• राज्ये: in the dominion/kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• असुराणाम्: of the Asuras
• असुराणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• विदधे: appointed/ordained
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वरुणम्: Varuṇa
• वरुणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रभुम्: as lord/master
• प्रभुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मृत्युम्: Death (Mṛtyu)
• मृत्युम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राणेश्वरम्: lord of the vital breaths
• प्राणेश्वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण-ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then/and also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• तेजसाम्: of the splendors/energies
• तेजसाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• हुताशनम्: Agni (the oblation-eater)
• हुताशनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुताशन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वसुहरोम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वसुहरोम (Vasuharoma)
• वरुण (Varuṇa)
• मृत्यु (Mṛtyu, Death)
• हुताशन/अग्नि (Hutāśana/Agni, Fire)
• अप्/जल (Waters)
• असुर (Asuras)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the universe is sustained by an ordered distribution of authority: each cosmic force has a defined jurisdiction (waters, life-breath, radiance). This models dharma as rightful placement of power and responsibility rather than arbitrary dominance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasuharoma describes how a supreme ordainer assigns rulership: Varuṇa is set over waters (and the Asuras’ realm), Death over the life-breaths of beings, and Agni over tejas. It is a catalog of cosmic appointments illustrating structured governance of the world.