Shloka 21

Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity

Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

सप्त चान्यानि युक्तानि वाजिभि: समलंकृतै: । ब्रह्म! पितामह! फिर स्वर्णहारसे विभूषित हरे रंगवाले सत्रह करोड़ श्यामकर्ण घोड़े

Transliteration

sapta cānyāni yuktāni vājibhiḥ samalaṅkṛtaiḥ | brahman pitāmaha |

Translation

قال بهاغيراثا: «يا أيها البراهمن، يا أيها الجدّ الجليل (بيتامها)! لقد وهبتُ أيضًا سبعةَ أطقمٍ/مراكبَ أخرى، مُقترنةً بخيلٍ مُزدانةٍ أحسنَ الزينة». وفي سياق الكلام تُبرز العبارة خُلُقَ الدّانا (dāna، العطاء السخي): فالقُربان لا يُقدَّم على سبيل الرمز أو الاكتفاء، بل يُقدَّم كاملًا جميلًا لائقًا، ليعود بالنفع الحقّ على الآخذ ويُكرِّم الواجب المقدّس.

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• अन्यानि: other (things)
• अन्यानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• युक्तानि: yoked/attached
• युक्तानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• वाजिभिः: with horses
• वाजिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• समलंकृतैः: well-adorned
• समलंकृतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + अलं + कृ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

Speaker

भगीरथ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Brahman (addressed sage/priest)
• Pitāmaha (Grandsire; typically Bhīṣma in Anuśāsana-parvan)
• horses

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse supports the dharma of dāna: gifts should be given in a worthy, complete, and beneficial form (properly equipped and adorned), reflecting sincerity rather than mere display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhagīratha is recounting acts of donation to an elder authority (addressed as Brahman and Grandsire), describing additional gifts—vehicles/sets yoked with well-decorated horses—within a broader discussion of meritorious giving.