Mahabharata — Vana Parva, Shloka 120
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच यत् त्वमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र दानधर्म युधिष्ठिर । इष्ट चेद॑ं सदा महूं राजन् गौरवतस्तथा
Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca | yat tvam icchasi rājendra dāna-dharma Yudhiṣṭhira | iṣṭaṃ cedam sadā mahyaṃ rājan gauravatas tathā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Hỡi bậc vương giả tối thượng, Yudhiṣṭhira, pháp về bố thí mà ngươi muốn nghe từ ta vốn luôn là điều ta yêu quý, hỡi đại vương—chính vì nó cao quý và đáng được tôn kính.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dāna (charitable giving) as a dignified, honor-worthy aspect of dharma, and presents it as a subject that a sage gladly teaches because of its inherent nobility.
In response to Yudhiṣṭhira’s request, the sage Mārkaṇḍeya begins an instruction on dāna-dharma, affirming his willingness and esteem for the topic before proceeding with the teaching.
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