Shloka 27

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्‌ धर्मिणस्तस्य दुर्भिक्षे सति दारुणे

Transliteration

kadācid dharmiṇas tasya durbhikṣe sati dāruṇe brāhmaṇaḥ

Translation

那俱罗说道：有一次，可怖的饥荒骤起，那位持法的婆罗门陷入极度困厄。既无储粮，田间庄稼又尽皆枯槁，他遂一贫如洗——由此在匮乏之中，耐忍与法义的考验拉开序幕。

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा + चित्

• धर्मिणः: of the righteous (man)
• धर्मिणः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तस्य: of him, his
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• दुर्भिक्षे: in famine
• दुर्भिक्षे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सति: being, existing (when there was)
• सति: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (सत्)
• Form: present active participle, Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दारुणे: terrible, dreadful
• दारुणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• Brāhmaṇa
• famine (durbhikṣa)
• grain/food (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames famine and poverty as a crucible for dharma: righteousness is not merely prosperity-based but is tested when resources vanish, inviting reflection on steadfastness, restraint, and ethical conduct under hardship.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula begins recounting an episode about a righteous brāhmaṇa during a severe famine. With no stored grain and crops ruined, the brāhmaṇa becomes completely poor, preparing the narrative for subsequent choices and their moral implications.