Shloka 13

उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानप्रारम्भः — Uttanka’s Tapas, Viṣṇu-stuti, and the Dhundhumāra Prophecy

Opening

Devanagari script

व्यवहाररता वैश्या भविष्यन्ति कृते युगे । षट्कर्मनिरता वित्रा: क्षत्रिया विक्रमे रता:

Transliteration

vyavahāraratā vaiśyā bhaviṣyanti kṛte yuge | ṣaṭkarmaniratā viprāḥ kṣatriyā vikrame ratāḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Trong Kṛta Yuga, giai cấp Vaiśya sẽ chuyên tâm vào giao dịch công bằng và thương nghiệp có trật tự; các Brāhmaṇa sẽ tận lực với sáu bổn phận đã được quy định; còn các Kṣatriya sẽ vui thích nơi dũng lực và những công cuộc anh hùng.”

Word by Word

• व्यवहाररताः: engaged in trade/transactions
• व्यवहाररताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवहार-रत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• वैश्याः: Vaishyas (merchant class)
• वैश्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भविष्यन्ति: will be / will become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• कृते: in the Kṛta (age)
• कृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• युगे: in the age/epoch
• युगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• षट्कर्मनिरताः: devoted to the six duties
• षट्कर्मनिरताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट्कर्म-निरत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• क्षत्रियाः: Kshatriyas (warrior class)
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विक्रमे: in valor/heroism
• विक्रमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रताः: engaged/delighting
• रताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Kṛta Yuga
• Vaiśya
• Vipra (Brāhmaṇa)
• Kṣatriya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an idealized social-ethical order for the Kṛta Yuga: each varṇa is portrayed as naturally inclined toward its dharmic function—Vaiśyas toward honest economic conduct, Brāhmaṇas toward the six Vedic duties, and Kṣatriyas toward courageous protection and heroic action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing characteristics of the Kṛta Yuga, outlining how different social groups behave when dharma is strong and society is harmoniously ordered.