महाभारतः mahābhārataḥ - book-12, chapter-264, verse-3

home » Scriptures Library » Mahabharata

View complete chapter

राष्ट्रे धर्मोत्तरे श्रेष्ठे विदर्भेष्वभवद्द्विजः ।
उञ्छवृत्तिरृषिः कश्चिद्यज्ञे यज्ञं समादधे ॥३॥

3. rāṣṭre dharmottare śreṣṭhe vidarbheṣvabhavaddvijaḥ ,
uñchavṛttirṛṣiḥ kaścidyajñe yajñaṁ samādadhe.

3. rāṣṭre dharma-uttare śreṣṭhe vidarbheṣu abhavat dvijaḥ
| uñcha-vṛttiḥ ṛṣiḥ kaścit yajñe yajñam samādadhe

3. dharma-uttare śreṣṭhe vidarbheṣu rāṣṭre kaścit uñcha-vṛttiḥ
ṛṣiḥ dvijaḥ abhavat saḥ yajñe yajñam samādadhe

3. In the excellent kingdom of Vidarbha, a region where natural law (dharma) was supremely upheld, there lived a certain Brahmin (dvija). He was an ascetic (ṛṣi) who sustained himself by gleaning (uñchavṛtti), and he performed a Vedic ritual (yajña) for the sake of (the principle of) Vedic ritual (yajña).

Words meanings summery:

(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)

राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - Specifies the setting: within the region of Vidarbha. (in the kingdom, in the country)

धर्म-उत्तरे (dharma-uttare) - Describes the kingdom of Vidarbha as a place where natural law (dharma) was highly esteemed and practiced. (where natural law is supreme, excellent in natural law)

श्रेष्ठे (śreṣṭhe) - Further describes the high quality and virtue of the kingdom of Vidarbha. (in the best, in the most excellent)

विदर्भेषु (vidarbheṣu) - The geographical location of the story, an ancient Indian kingdom. (in Vidarbha)

अभवत् (abhavat) - Indicates the presence or residence of the Brahmin. (there was, existed, lived)

द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - The main subject of the story, a Brahmin who is also an ascetic. (a Brahmin, a twice-born)

उञ्छ-वृत्तिः (uñcha-vṛttiḥ) - Describes the austere manner in which the Brahmin supported himself. (one whose livelihood is gleaning)

ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - Indicates the Brahmin's spiritual and ascetic nature. (a sage, an ascetic, an inspired poet)

कश्चित् (kaścit) - Refers to an unspecified Brahmin, introducing him as the subject of the story. (a certain, some (one))

यज्ञे (yajñe) - He performed a Vedic ritual (yajña) for the sake of its inherent purpose or in accordance with the principle of Vedic ritual itself. (in the Vedic ritual, for the sake of the Vedic ritual)

यज्ञम् (yajñam) - The specific Vedic ritual that the Brahmin performed. (a Vedic ritual)

समादधे (samādadhe) - The Brahmin undertook the performance of a Vedic ritual (yajña). (he performed, he established, he undertook)

Words meanings and morphology

राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - Specifies the setting: within the region of Vidarbha. (in the kingdom, in the country)

(noun)

Locative, neuter, singular of rāṣṭra

rāṣṭra - kingdom, realm, country

धर्म-उत्तरे (dharma-uttare) - Describes the kingdom of Vidarbha as a place where natural law (dharma) was highly esteemed and practiced. (where natural law is supreme, excellent in natural law)

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, singular of dharma-uttara

dharma-uttara - superior in natural law, preeminent in virtue

Tatpurusha compound of dharma (natural law) and uttara (superior)

Compound type : tatpurusha (dharma+uttara)

dharma – natural law, righteousness, duty
noun (masculine)
Derived from the root dhṛ (to uphold, sustain)
Root: dhṛ (class 1)
uttara – superior, excellent, supreme
adjective (masculine/feminine/neuter)

Note: Agrees with 'rāṣṭre'.

श्रेष्ठे (śreṣṭhe) - Further describes the high quality and virtue of the kingdom of Vidarbha. (in the best, in the most excellent)

(adjective)

Locative, neuter, singular of śreṣṭha

śreṣṭha - best, most excellent, superior

Superlative degree

Superlative form of 'praśasya' (excellent)

Note: Agrees with 'rāṣṭre'.

विदर्भेषु (vidarbheṣu) - The geographical location of the story, an ancient Indian kingdom. (in Vidarbha)

(proper noun)

Locative, masculine, plural of vidarbha

vidarbha - Vidarbha (name of an ancient country or region in India)

अभवत् (abhavat) - Indicates the presence or residence of the Brahmin. (there was, existed, lived)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, imperfect (laṅ) of bhū

Imperfect tense, 3rd person singular, active voice

From root bhū (class 1) in imperfect tense

Root: bhū (class 1)

द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - The main subject of the story, a Brahmin who is also an ascetic. (a Brahmin, a twice-born)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dvija

dvija - twice-born (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya); a Brahmin; a bird; a tooth

Compound of dvi (two) and ja (born)

Compound type : tatpurusha (dvi+ja)

dvi – two
numeral
ja – born, produced from
adjective (masculine/feminine/neuter)
Past Passive Participle
Derived from the root jan (to be born)
Root: jan (class 4)

Note: Subject of 'abhavat'.

उञ्छ-वृत्तिः (uñcha-vṛttiḥ) - Describes the austere manner in which the Brahmin supported himself. (one whose livelihood is gleaning)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of uñcha-vṛtti

uñcha-vṛtti - livelihood by gleaning

Compound of uñcha (gleaning) and vṛtti (livelihood)

Compound type : tatpurusha (uñcha+vṛtti)

uñcha – gleaning (the act of collecting scattered grain)
noun (neuter)
vṛtti – livelihood, mode of life, conduct
noun (feminine)
Derived from the root vṛt (to be, to exist)
Root: vṛt (class 1)

ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - Indicates the Brahmin's spiritual and ascetic nature. (a sage, an ascetic, an inspired poet)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ṛṣi

ṛṣi - sage, ascetic, inspired poet, seer

Derived from root ṛṣ (to go, to move, to flow)

Root: ṛṣ (class 1)

Note: Appositive to 'dvijaḥ'.

कश्चित् (kaścit) - Refers to an unspecified Brahmin, introducing him as the subject of the story. (a certain, some (one))

(pronoun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of kaścid

kaścid - a certain (one), some (one)

Indefinite pronoun formed from the interrogative pronoun 'kim' and the particle 'cid'

Note: Agrees with 'dvijaḥ'.

यज्ञे (yajñe) - He performed a Vedic ritual (yajña) for the sake of its inherent purpose or in accordance with the principle of Vedic ritual itself. (in the Vedic ritual, for the sake of the Vedic ritual)

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of yajña

yajña - Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship

Derived from the root yaj (to worship)

Root: yaj (class 1)

यज्ञम् (yajñam) - The specific Vedic ritual that the Brahmin performed. (a Vedic ritual)

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, singular of yajña

yajña - Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship

Derived from the root yaj (to worship)

Root: yaj (class 1)

Note: Direct object of 'samādadhe'.