Shloka 11

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

राजन! इसीलिये मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह स्वर्ग-मार्गपर अधिकार पानेकी इच्छासे सभी अवस्थाओंमें (श्रेष्ठ) ब्राह्मणोंको ही सब प्रकारके दान दे

Transliteration

rājan! tasmān manuṣyeṇa svargamārgādhikāraprāptikāmatayā sarvāsv avasthāsu śreṣṭhebhya eva brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sarvaprakāraṃ dānaṃ dātavyam.

Translation

马尔坎德耶说道：“大王啊，因此，凡欲得行天界之道之资格者，当于人生诸境之中，诸般布施皆应专施于堪受的婆罗门。”

Word by Word

राजन्O king

तस्मात्therefore

मनुष्यःa man/person

इच्छयाwith the desire

स्वर्गमार्गाधिकारप्राप्तिम्attainment of entitlement to the path to heaven

सर्वासुin all

अवस्थासुconditions/states

ब्राह्मणेभ्यःto Brahmins

एवindeed/only

सर्वप्रकाराणिall kinds (of)

दानानिgifts/charities

दद्यात्should give

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

rājan (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity (dāna), when directed to worthy Brahmins and maintained across all life-situations, is presented as a key dharmic means for gaining qualification (adhikāra) for the heavenly path—emphasizing intention, consistency, and proper recipients.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a king and draws a conclusion (“therefore”) from preceding discussion, advising him on the ethical practice of giving: one who desires heavenly attainment should give various forms of gifts to excellent Brahmins in every circumstance.