Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

कीदृशीषु हावस्थासु दत्त्वा दानं महामुने

Transliteration

kīdṛśīṣu hāvasthāsu dattvā dānaṃ mahāmune

Translation

Vaiśampāyana thưa: “Bạch đại hiền giả, trong những hoàn cảnh và điều kiện nào thì một món bố thí, khi đã cho, mới thật sự được kể là bố thí có công đức?”

Word by Word

कीदृशीषुin what kind of (states/conditions)

अवस्थासुin conditions, situations

दत्त्वाhaving given

दानम्a gift, charity

महामुनेO great sage

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry into dāna: merit depends not only on the act of giving but also on the circumstances and the giver’s condition—prompting a discussion on intention, appropriateness, and dharmic context.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva’s didactic flow, Vaiśaṃpāyana introduces or relays a question to a great sage about the proper conditions under which charity should be given, setting up guidance on righteous giving.