Shloka 44

Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

ता इमा बिप्रमुख्येभ्यो यो ददाति महीपते । निस्तरेदापदं कृच्छां विषमस्थो5पि पार्थिव,भूपाल! पृथ्वीनाथ! जो श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्यणोंको इन गौओंका दान करता है, वह संकटमें पड़ा हो तो भी उस भारी विपत्तिसे उद्धार पा लेता है

Transliteration

tā imā vipramukhye bhyo yo dadāti mahīpate | nistared āpadaṃ kṛcchrāṃ viṣamastho 'pi pārthiva ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „O König, wer diese Kühe den vornehmsten Brahmanen schenkt, wird selbst eine schwerste Heimsuchung überqueren. Auch wenn ein Herrscher in gefährlicher Lage steht, wird eine solche Gabe zum Mittel der Erlösung aus großer Bedrängnis.“

Word by Word

ताःthose (f.)

इमाःthese (f.)

विप्रमुख्येभ्यःto the foremost Brahmins

यःwho (he who)

ददातिgives

महीपतेO king (lord of the earth)

निस्तरेत्would cross over, would be delivered

आपदम्calamity, distress

कृच्छाम्severe, grievous

विषमस्थःbeing in a difficult situation

अपिeven, also

पार्थिवO king

भूपालO protector of the earth

पृथ्वीनाथO lord of the earth

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

the king (Yudhishthira, implied addressee)

foremost Brahmins

cows (as the gift)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that go-dāna—especially to worthy, eminent Brahmins—is a powerful dharmic act whose merit protects a ruler and helps him overcome even severe संकट (āpada), emphasizing charity as a practical support for ethical kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on duties and meritorious acts. Here he highlights the efficacy of donating the specified cows to excellent Brahmins, assuring that such a gift brings deliverance even when the king is trapped in grave danger.