Shloka 6

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणावसथं पुण्यमाससाद महीपति: । तत्र नास्नातक: वक्षिन्न चासीदव्रती द्विज:

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāvasaṭhaṁ puṇyam āsasāda mahīpatiḥ | tatra nāsnātakaḥ vakṣiṁ na cāsīd avratī dvijaḥ, janamejaya |

Translation

国王来到一处婆罗门的圣洁住地。噢，阇那梅阇耶，在那里他连一位未曾按法完成吠陀学业的婆罗门也未见到；亦未见任何“再生者”（二生族）无誓无戒、缺乏自律而居。此景昭示：学识、克制与正行自具伦理威力；一方社群之神圣，不在武力，而在严谨的教育与对达摩的忠实奉行。

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणावसथम्: the Brahmins' dwelling/settlement
• ब्राह्मणावसथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणावसथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुण्यम्: holy, sacred
• पुण्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आससाद: reached, came to
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महीपतिः: the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

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

• अस्नातकः: one who has not completed studentship/has not taken the स्नातक rite
• अस्नातकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्नातक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अवक्षिन्: one without proper dress/discipline (term of censure)
• अवक्षिन्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: nor
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आसीत्: was, existed
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अव्रती: one without vows/observances
• अव्रती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्रतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजः: a Brahmin (lit. twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनमेजय: O Janamejaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• mahīpati (the king)
• Janamejaya
• brāhmaṇāvasaṭha (Brahmin settlement)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that true sanctity and social strength arise from disciplined learning and vow-observance: a community becomes 'puṇya' when its members uphold brahmacarya, Vedic study, and ethical restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king arrives at a sacred Brahmin settlement and observes that all the Brahmins there are properly trained (asnātaka) and none are lax in vows (avratī), emphasizing the exceptional purity and order of that community.