Shloka 33

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

Devanagari script

तत्र धर्मार्थकामा हि मोक्ष: पश्चाच्च कीर्तित: । मर्यादा विविधाश्वैव दिवि भूमौ च संस्थिता:

Transliteration

tatra dharmārthakāmā hi mokṣaḥ paścācca kīrtitaḥ | maryādā vividhāś caiva divi bhūmau ca saṃsthitāḥ ||

Translation

其中先阐明人生之旨——法（dharma）、利（artha）、欲（kāma）——继而亦教导解脱（mokṣa）。又详说天界与人间所行的种种礼法、规范与行为准则。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

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

• अर्थ: wealth, purpose
• अर्थ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कामाः: desires/pleasures
• कामाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

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

• कीर्तितः: is described/has been mentioned
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तित
• Form: Passive, Perfect (resultative past sense), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मर्यादाः: boundaries/limits; conventions
• मर्यादाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• विविधाः: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• भूमौ: on earth
• भूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

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

• संस्थिताः: are established/prevail
• Type: Verb
• Root: संस्थित
• Form: Active (participial), Past (PPP-like adjectival usage), Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a structured ethical curriculum: first the three worldly aims (dharma, artha, kāma) are taught, and then the transcendent aim (mokṣa). It also emphasizes that proper conduct (maryādā) is not arbitrary but consists of established norms recognized across both celestial and human spheres.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing on peace and right conduct in the Śānti Parva, summarizes the scope of the teaching being presented: it covers the puruṣārthas and explains the diverse standards of propriety that guide behavior in different realms (heaven and earth).