Shloka 19

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

ये ये श्राद्धे न युज्यन्ते मूकान्धवधिरादय: । तेडपि सर्वे नियोक्तव्या मिश्रिता वेदपारगै:,किंतु अंधे, गूँगे, बहरे आदि जिन-जिन ब्राह्मणोंको श्राद्धमें वर्जित बताया गया है, उन सबको वेदपारंगत ब्राह्मणोंके साथ श्राद्धमें सम्मिलित किया जा सकता है

Transliteration

ye ye śrāddhe na yujyante mūkāndha-vadhirādayaḥ | teḍ api sarve niyoktavyā miśritā vedapāragaiḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Những brāhmaṇa được mô tả là không thích hợp để đảm nhiệm śrāddha—như người câm, người mù, người điếc và những người khác—vẫn có thể được cho tham dự cả, miễn là họ được ngồi và cùng tham gia với các brāhmaṇa thông suốt Veda.”

Word by Word

येthose who

येthose who (whichever)

श्राद्धेin the śrāddha (rite)

नnot

युज्यन्तेare employed/are admitted (are to be engaged)

मूकmute (persons)

अन्धblind (persons)

वधिरdeaf (persons)

आदयःand others, etc.

तेthey

अपिalso, even

सर्वेall

नियोक्तव्याःshould be appointed/engaged

मिश्रिताःmixed/combined (together)

वेदपारगैःwith those who have mastered the Veda

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Śrāddha

Brāhmaṇas

Veda

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when certain persons are traditionally listed as ineligible for direct appointment in śrāddha, they need not be wholly excluded; they may be included when associated with Veda-proficient Brahmins, balancing ritual norms with humane inclusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is instructing about proper conduct in śrāddha rites, clarifying how to treat categories of Brahmins sometimes said to be ‘not to be engaged’—allowing their participation when joined with learned officiants.