Shloka 9

Rantideva’s Supreme Charity and the Hastī Lineage

Hastināpura and Pañcāla Origins

Devanagari script

स आद‍ृत्यावशिष्टं यद्म बहुमानपुरस्कृतम् । तच्च दत्त्वा नमश्चक्रे श्वभ्य: श्वपतये विभु: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

sa ādṛtyāvaśiṣṭaṁ yad bahu-māna-puraskṛtam tac ca dattvā namaścakre śvabhyaḥ śva-pataye vibhuḥ

Translation

রাজা শ্রদ্ধাভরে অবশিষ্ট অন্নটি মহাসম্মানে কুকুরদের ও কুকুরদের অধিপতিকে দিলেন। তারপর তিনি তাদের প্রতি প্রণাম ও যথোচিত সম্মান নিবেদন করলেন।

Synonyms

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ādṛtya: having respectfully accepted
• ādṛtya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√dṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) — ‘having respected/received’

• avaśiṣṭam: leftover, remaining
• avaśiṣṭam: Karma (कर्म) — object (what remained)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-√śiṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (kta) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying yad/tat)

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन — relative pronoun

• bahu-māna-puraskṛtam: honored/treated with great respect
• bahu-māna-puraskṛtam: Karma (कर्म) — describing the object given
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक) + puras-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (bahu-māna as qualifier) + क्त (kta) participle puraskṛta; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying yat/tat)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन — correlative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — ‘having given’

• namaḥ: obeisance
• namaḥ: Karma (कर्म) — object of cakre (did)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय — used as interjection ‘obeisance’

• cakre: did/made (offered)
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śvabhyaḥ: to the dogs
• śvabhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th), बहुवचन

• śva-pataye: to the lord/master of the dogs
• śva-pataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śvānām patiḥ); पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• vibhuḥ: the powerful one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — apposition to saḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Rantideva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about feeding dogs and compassion to all beings?

This verse shows King Rantideva offering even his last remaining food to dogs and their keeper, illustrating universal compassion (dayā) and respect for all living beings as part of dharma and devotion.

Why did King Rantideva give away his remaining food in Canto 9 Chapter 21?

Rantideva was fixed in selfless service and saw giving as worship; even when hungry, he honored the remnants and offered them to others, demonstrating detachment and saintly generosity.

How can I apply King Rantideva’s teaching in modern life?

Practice conscious generosity—share food, resources, and respect with those in need (including animals), and cultivate humility by offering service without expecting recognition.