Shloka 38

जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः

Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment

Devanagari script

एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ता: सदा दानतपःपरा: | आनृशंस्यगुणोपेता: कामक्रोधविवर्जिता:

Transliteration

evaṁ dharmam anukrāntāḥ sadā dāna-tapaḥ-parāḥ | ānṛśaṁsya-guṇopetāḥ kāma-krodha-vivarjitāḥ ||

Translation

阿周那说道：“若我们恒常循行正法——常勤于布施与苦行——具足慈悲与不害之德，远离欲与嗔之过；又依止高尚的施舍与正行，勤于护民治众，并持续侍奉师长与可敬的耆老，那么我们必将抵达所求之界。”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुक्रान्ताः: having followed, having proceeded after
• अनुक्रान्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-क्रम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• दान: giving, charity
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), Singular

• पराः: devoted (to), intent on
• पराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आनृशंस्य: non-cruelty, compassion
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनृशंस्य
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), Singular

• गुण: quality, virtue
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• उपेताः: endowed with, possessed of
• उपेताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-इ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• काम: desire, lust
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• क्रोध: anger
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), Singular

• विवर्जिताः: free from, having abandoned
• विवर्जिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-वर्ज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that steadfast adherence to dharma is expressed through concrete virtues: generosity (dāna), disciplined austerity (tapas), compassion/non-cruelty (ānṛśaṁsya), and self-mastery by abandoning desire and anger. Such a life—also marked by responsible governance and service to elders—leads to the attainment of one’s desired spiritual goal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna speaks reflectively, outlining a program of righteous living and rulership: follow dharma consistently, cultivate compassion, restrain passions like desire and anger, uphold charitable and moral conduct, protect the people, and serve teachers and elders—affirming that these practices secure the sought-after higher realm.