Shloka 2
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
Devanagari script
कीदृशीषु हावस्थासु दत्त्वा दानं महामुने
Transliteration
kīdṛśīṣu hāvasthāsu dattvā dānaṃ mahāmune
Translation
毗湿摩耶那说道：“大圣者啊，在何种境况与条件之下，所施之物才真正算作有功德的布施？”
Word by Word
कीदृशीषुin what kind of (states/conditions)
कीदृशीषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootकीदृश
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
अवस्थासुin conditions, situations
अवस्थासु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअवस्था
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदा (दाने)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), non-finite
दानम्a gift, charity
दानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
महामुनेO great sage
महामुने:
TypeNoun
Rootमहामुनि
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśaṃpāyanaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into dāna: merit depends not only on the act of giving but also on the circumstances and the giver’s condition—prompting a discussion on intention, appropriateness, and dharmic context.
In the Vana Parva’s didactic flow, Vaiśaṃpāyana introduces or relays a question to a great sage about the proper conditions under which charity should be given, setting up guidance on righteous giving.