Shloka 153

Viśokā Dvādaśī Vow, Guḍa-Dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift, and Śaila-Dāna (Mountain-Charity) Rites

Devanagari script

पूर्ववच्चापरं सर्वं विष्कंभपर्वतादिकम् । दानमंत्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा च नृपपुंगव

Transliteration

pūrvavaccāparaṃ sarvaṃ viṣkaṃbhaparvatādikam | dānamaṃtraṃ pravakṣyāmi yathā ca nṛpapuṃgava

Translation

হে নৃপপুঙ্গব, পূর্বের মতো বিষ্কম্ভ পর্বতাদি সবই (বর্ণিত হয়েছে)। এখন আমি যথাযথ দান-মন্ত্র বলছি।

Word by Word

• pūrvavat: as before
• pūrvavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvavat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकनिबद्ध)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb); -vat suffix meaning ‘like/as before’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction)

• aparam: the other/remaining
• aparam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; qualifying sarvam

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used substantively ‘everything’

• viṣkambha-parvata-ādikam: (items) such as Viṣkambha mountain etc.
• viṣkambha-parvata-ādikam: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to sarvam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣkambha + parvata + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: viṣkambha-parvataḥ (name/type) + ādi ‘etc.’; meaning ‘(things) beginning with Viṣkambha mountain’

• dāna-mantram: the donation-mantra
• dāna-mantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dānasya mantraḥ = ‘mantra for donation’

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/Future-intent in classical usage), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• yathā: as
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner/relative adverb ‘as/how’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• nṛpa-puṅgava: O foremost of kings
• nṛpa-puṅgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; nṛpāṇāṃ puṅgavaḥ = ‘bull/foremost among kings’

Speaker

Pulastya (narrator-sage) to Bhīṣma (addressed as nṛpa-puṅgava)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūrvavat ca → pūrvavaccā (c + a → ccā); viṣkambha-parvata-ādikam is a tatpuruṣa with ādi-kam as ‘etc.’; dāna-mantram is tatpuruṣa.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣkambha (mountain)

FAQs

What is the main topic introduced in this verse?

It transitions from prior descriptions (including items like the Viṣkambha mountain) to the teaching of the proper mantra/formula to be recited when making gifts (dāna).

Who is being addressed as “nṛpa-puṅgava” in this context?

The verse addresses the listener as “foremost of kings,” traditionally identifying Bhīṣma as the royal interlocutor in the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework.

What ethical or religious emphasis does this verse imply?

It underscores that charity (dāna) is not only an act but also a disciplined rite, to be performed with correct intention and prescribed recitation, aligning generosity with dharma.