FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.28

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च सहोपायान् यथा मुने । नानाख्यानेतिहासेषु वर्णयामास तत्त्ववित् ॥ २८ ॥
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṁś ca
[dharmaartha-kaama-mokshaamsh cha]
sahopāyān yathā mune
[sahopaayaan yathaa mune]
nānākhyānetihāseṣu
[naanaakhyaanetihaaseshu]
varṇayām āsa tattvavit
[varnayaam aasa tattvavit]
dharma — occupational duties artha — economic development kāma — fulfillment of desires mokṣān — ultimate salvation ca — and saha — along with upāyān — means yathā — as it is mune — O sage nānā — various ākhyāna — by recitation of historical narrations itihāseṣu — in the histories varṇayām āsa — described tattva-vit — one who knows the truth.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṁś ca
dharma
occupational duties
artha
economic development
kāma
fulfillment of desires
mokṣān
ultimate salvation
ca
and
sahopāyān yathā mune
saha
along with
upāyān
means
yathā
as it is
mune
O sage
nānākhyānetihāseṣu
nānā
various
ākhyāna
by recitation of historical narrations
varṇayām āsa tattvavit
itihāseṣu
in the histories
varṇayām āsa
described
tattva-vit
one who knows the truth.
Then he described the occupational duties of different orders and statuses of life, citing instances from history, for he was himself well acquainted with the truth.

Incidents mentioned in the Vedic literatures such as the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa are factual historical narrations that took place sometime in the past, although not in any chronological order. Such historical facts, being instructive for ordinary men, were assorted without chronological reference. Besides that, they happen on different planets, nay, in different universes, and thus the description of the narrations is sometimes measured by three dimensions. We are simply concerned with the instructive lessons of such incidents, even though they are not in order by our limited range of understanding. Bhīṣmadeva described such narrations before Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira in reply to his different questions.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Śaunaka! Bhīṣma, knower of truth, accurately described dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa along with their methods, using various stories and histories as proof.
Commentary

All the dharmas described can be placed ultimately in four categories of artha, dharma, kāma and mokṣa. He mentions these categories in order to strengthen what has been said. Upāyān means the means of attaining dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa. Yathā means “accurately.” He proved what he said by showing instances in the histories.

He described occupational duties of orders and statuses, citing historical instances, for he himself knew the truth. Teaching from lived knowledge has a different weight than secondhand instruction.
Reflection Questions
  • What can I teach from lived experience rather than borrowed insight?
  • Where am I leaning on others' stories when my own would carry more weight?
📝 My note

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