Shloka 33

Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)

Devanagari script

उपानहौ च यो दद्यात्‌ पात्रभूते द्विजोत्तमे । छत्रदाने सुखां छायां लभते परलोकग:

Transliteration

upānahau ca yo dadyāt pātrabhūte dvijottame | chatradāne sukhāṃ chāyāṃ labhate paralokagaḥ ||

Translation

Yama sprach: Wer einem würdigen Empfänger—besonders einem vortrefflichen Brāhmaṇa—ein Paar Sandalen schenkt, erlangt Behagen in der jenseitigen Welt; und durch die Gabe eines Schirms gewinnt er dort wohltuenden, kühlenden Schatten.

Word by Word

• उपानहौ: a pair of sandals
• उपानहौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानह् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

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

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, optative, प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पात्रभूते: in/unto one who has become a worthy recipient
• पात्रभूते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पात्रभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तमे: in/unto the best of the twice-born (a foremost Brahmin)
• द्विजोत्तमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• छत्रदाने: in the giving of an umbrella
• छत्रदाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सुखाम्: pleasant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• छायाम्: shade
• छायाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लभते: obtains
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, present indicative, प्रथम, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• परलोकगः: one who has gone to the next world (in the hereafter)
• परलोकगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परलोकग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• dvijottama (worthy brāhmaṇa recipient)
• upānah (sandals)
• chatra (umbrella)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Practical gifts given with discernment to a worthy recipient (pātra), especially a virtuous brāhmaṇa, yield corresponding benefits in the afterlife: sandals bring comfort of travel and ease, and an umbrella brings protective, pleasant shade—symbolizing relief, shelter, and well-being earned through dāna.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva’s discourse on dāna-dharma, Yama speaks about the specific fruits of particular gifts. Here he states the merit gained by donating sandals and an umbrella, linking each donation to an analogous reward experienced in paraloka.