Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

जो श्रेष्ठ एवं सुपात्र ब्राह्मणको उपानह (जूता) दान करता है, उसके लिये कहीं कोई विषम स्थान नहीं है। न उसे दुःख उठाना पड़ता है और न काँटोंका ही सामना करना पड़ता है। छत्र-दान करनेसे परलोकमें जानेपर दाताको सुखदायिनी छाया सुलभ होती है ।।

Transliteration

yama uvāca | yo śreṣṭhaṃ evaṃ supātraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ upānah (jūtā) dānaṃ karoti, tasya kvāpi na kaścid viṣama-sthānaḥ | na tasya duḥkhaṃ bhavitum arhati, na ca kaṇṭakānāṃ samāgamo bhavati | chatra-dānāt paralokaṃ gatvā dātur upalabhyate sukhadāyinī chāyā | na hi dattasyā dānasya nāśo 'stīha kadācana | citragupta-mataṃ śrutvā hṛṣṭa-romā vibhāvasuḥ ||

Translation

Yama sprach: „Wer einem vortrefflichen und würdigen Brahmanen ein Paar Sandalen schenkt, wird niemals unebenen oder beschwerlichen Boden antreffen; er muss weder Mühsal erdulden noch die Qual der Dornen erleiden. Und wer einen Schirm spendet, dem steht, wenn er in die jenseitige Welt gelangt, ein wohltuender, angenehmer Schatten bereit. Wahrlich: Eine Gabe, einmal gegeben, geht niemals verloren. Als Vibhavasu das Urteil Citraguptas vernahm, sträubten sich ihm vor Freude die Haare.“

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'यम (Yama)', 'definition': 'Lord of justice and the dead

• moral judge in the afterlife'}, {'term': 'श्रेष्ठ (śreṣṭha)', 'definition': 'excellent, best, noble'}, {'term': 'सुपात्र (supātra)', 'definition': 'a worthy recipient (fit vessel for charity)'}, {'term': 'ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa)', 'definition': 'a Brahmin

• here, an exemplary recipient for dāna'}, {'term': 'उपानह् / उपानह (upānah)', 'definition': 'sandals, footwear'}, {'term': 'दान (dāna)', 'definition': 'gift, charitable giving'}, {'term': 'विषमस्थान (viṣama-sthāna)', 'definition': 'uneven/difficult place

• metaphor for hardship on one’s path'}, {'term': 'कण्टक (kaṇṭaka)', 'definition': 'thorn

• symbol of pain and obstacles'}, {'term': 'छत्र (chatra)', 'definition': 'umbrella, parasol

• emblem of protection and comfort'}, {'term': 'परलोक (paraloka)', 'definition': 'the next world, afterlife'}, {'term': 'छाया (chāyā)', 'definition': 'shade

• comfort/protection as karmic fruit'}, {'term': 'नाश (nāśa)', 'definition': 'loss, destruction

• here denied for true charity'}, {'term': 'चित्रगुप्त (citragupta)', 'definition': 'recorder of deeds

• associated with moral accounting'}, {'term': 'विभावसु (vibhāvasu)', 'definition': 'an epithet meaning ‘radiant one’

• commonly used for Agni'}, {'term': 'हृष्टरोमा (hṛṣṭa-romā)', 'definition': 'with bristling hair

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• यम (Yama)
• ब्राह्मण (Brahmin recipient)
• उपानह् (sandals/footwear)
• छत्र (umbrella)
• परलोक (the next world)
• चित्रगुप्त (Chitragupta)
• विभावसु (Vibhavasu/Agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Practical, need-based gifts given to worthy recipients yield corresponding karmic benefits: donating footwear removes hardship on one’s path, donating an umbrella grants protective comfort; and genuine charity is never ‘lost’ but endures as merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yama explains the fruits of specific acts of dāna (sandals and umbrella). The verse then notes that upon hearing Chitragupta’s assessment, Vibhavasu (Agni) becomes thrilled—highlighting the authority of moral accounting and the certainty of karmic results.