Mahabharata 3.201.88 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

दुर्वेदा वा सुवेदा वा प्राकृता: संस्कृतास्तथा । ब्राह्मणा नावमन्तव्या भस्मच्छन्ञा इवाग्नय:

Transliteration

durvedā vā suvedā vā prākṛtāḥ saṃskṛtās tathā | brāhmaṇā nāvamantavyā bhasmacchannā ivāgnayaḥ ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Dù các Bà-la-môn học Veda kém hay giỏi, dù được trau luyện bởi hạnh kiểm tốt hay trông thô mộc như người thường, cũng không được khinh mạn họ; vì họ như ngọn lửa ẩn dưới lớp tro.”

Word by Word

• दुर्वेदाः: poorly learned in the Veda
• दुर्वेदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• सुवेदाः: well learned in the Veda
• सुवेदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• प्राकृताः: uncultured / ordinary
• प्राकृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संस्कृताः: refined / well-cultured
• संस्कृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle of √कृ with सम्-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: likewise / so too
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अवमन्तव्याः: to be disrespected (i.e., should be disrespected)
• अवमन्तव्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवमन्तव्य (gerundive from अव√मन् “to disrespect”)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भस्मच्छन्नाः: covered with ash
• भस्मच्छन्नाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मच्छन्न (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of √छद् with भस्म-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इव: like / as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अग्नयः: fires
• अग्नयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Brāhmaṇas
• Fire (agni)
• Ash (bhasma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should not despise Brahmins based on outward appearance, imperfect learning, or seemingly uncultivated behavior; their status and potential spiritual power are compared to fire concealed under ash—still capable of burning when provoked.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva discourse context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a dharmic principle of restraint and reverence: regardless of a Brahmin’s visible qualifications, one must avoid contempt or insult, emphasizing the danger and impropriety of disrespect.