Shloka 48

Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः

Devanagari script

तथैवाश्वतरीणां च दान्तानां वातरंहसाम्‌ | शतान्यञ्जनकेशीनां श्वेतानां पऊडच पञ्च च,इसी प्रकार पाँच सौ काले अयालवाली और पाँच सौ सफेद रंगवाली खच्चरियाँ समर्पित कीं, जो सभी वशमें की हुई तथा वायुके समान वेगवाली थीं

Transliteration

tathaivāśvatarīṇāṃ ca dāntānāṃ vātarāṃhasām | śatāny añjanakeśīnāṃ śvetānāṃ pañca ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Ebenso wurden fünfhundert Maultierstuten mit dunklen, wie Anjana geschwärzten Mähnen und fünfhundert weiße dargebracht—alle wohl abgerichtet und schnell wie der Wind.

Word by Word

तथाthus, likewise

एवindeed, just

अश्वतरीणाम्of the she-mules

चand

दान्तानाम्of the tamed/controlled (ones)

वातरंहसाम्of those swift as the wind

शतानिhundreds

अञ्जनकेशीनाम्of those having collyrium-black manes

श्वेतानाम्of the white (ones)

पञ्चfive

चand

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

aśvatarī (she-mules)

añjana (collyrium, as a color-comparison)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dāna within dharma: offerings should be substantial, well-prepared, and appropriate to the occasion. The emphasis on being dānta (trained) suggests ethical value in disciplined resources—gifts that are genuinely useful and responsibly maintained.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator lists items being presented as part of a formal royal offering: large numbers of swift, well-trained she-mules of two color-types (dark-maned and white). It is part of a broader catalogue of gifts demonstrating wealth, respect, and adherence to courtly custom.