Shloka 42

Adhyāya 283: Varṇa-vṛtti, Nyāya-ārjana, and the Decline-and-Restoration of Dharma (वर्णवृत्तिः न्यायार्जनं च)

Devanagari script

आधावन्ति प्रधावन्ति वायुवेगा मनोजवा: । चूर्ण्यन्ते यज्ञपात्राणि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च

Transliteration

ādhāvanti pradhāvanti vāyuvegā manojavāḥ | cūrṇyante yajñapātrāṇi divyāny ābharaṇāni ca ||

Translation

Bọn tùy tùng lao đi, xô tới—nhanh như gió, lẹ như ý nghĩ. Những khí cụ tế lễ bị đập nát thành bụi, và cả những trang sức thần linh cũng bị phá vỡ tan tành.

Word by Word

• आधावन्ति: they run towards / rush
• आधावन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-धाव्
• Form: Lat, present, 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रधावन्ति: they run forth / rush about
• प्रधावन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-धाव्
• Form: Lat, present, 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• वायुवेगाः: having the speed of wind
• वायुवेगाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायुवेग
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• मनोजवाः: having the speed of mind
• मनोजवाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोजव
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• चूर्ण्यन्ते: are being crushed / pulverized
• चूर्ण्यन्ते: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: चूर्ण्
• Form: Lat, present, 3, plural, Atmanepada, passive

• यज्ञपात्राणि: sacrificial vessels
• यज्ञपात्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञपात्र
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• दिव्यानि: divine
• दिव्यानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

• आभरणानि: ornaments
• आभरणानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण
• Form: neuter, nominative, plural

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

Speaker

दक्ष उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa
• pārṣadāḥ (attendants/retainers)
• yajñapātrāṇi (sacrificial vessels)
• divyāni ābharaṇāni (divine ornaments)
• vāyu (wind)
• manas (mind)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how uncontrolled agitation and hostility can desecrate sacred spaces: when passions erupt, even objects meant for dharma—ritual vessels and revered ornaments—are reduced to ruin, showing the ethical cost of disorder and irreverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dakṣa describes a chaotic scene in which swift attendants (pārṣadas) rush about violently, crushing sacrificial implements and breaking divine ornaments, indicating the breakdown of ritual order and the onset of destructive turmoil.