Previous Verse
Next Verse

Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 343

Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā

Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties

अण्डजानि विजानीयात्‌ सर्वाश्वैव सरीसूपान्‌ इनके अतिरिक्त जो दूसरे आकाशचारी प्राणी हैं तथा जो पेटसे चलनेवाले सर्प आदि हैं, उन सबको भी अण्डज जानना चाहिये

aṇḍajāni vijānīyāt sarvāṇy eva sarīsṛpān |

风神伐由说道:“凡一切爬行之类——如蛇等——皆当知为‘卵生’(aṇḍaja)。同样,那些在空中往来飞行的诸有情,也应认定属于卵生之类。”

अण्डजानिegg-born beings
अण्डजानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअण्डज
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
विजानीयात्should know/should recognize
विजानीयात्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
सर्वान्all
सर्वान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अश्वान्horses
अश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
एवindeed/only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
सरीसृपान्reptiles/creeping creatures (e.g., serpents)
सरीसृपान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसरीसृप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (Vāyu)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches a traditional taxonomy of living beings: reptiles/creeping creatures (like snakes) and other sky-moving creatures are to be understood as aṇḍaja—born from eggs—highlighting a systematic way of knowing the natural world.

Vāyudeva is giving an instructive explanation, defining categories of birth and identifying which kinds of creatures fall under the ‘egg-born’ class.