Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

अल्पव्ययं महार्थ च प्रेत्य चैव सुखोदयम्‌ । पानीयस्य गुणा दिव्या: प्रेतलोके विशेषत:,उस धर्ममें व्यय बहुत थोड़ा है, परंतु लाभ महान्‌ है। उससे मृत्युके पश्चात्‌ भी उत्तम सुखकी प्राप्ति होती है। जलके गुण दिव्य हैं। प्रेतलोकमें ये गुण विशेषरूपसे लक्षित होते हैं

Transliteration

alpavyayaṁ mahārthaṁ ca pretya caiva sukhodayam | pānīyasya guṇā divyāḥ pretaloke viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Yama said: “This dharma requires only a small expenditure, yet yields great benefit; and even after death it brings the arising of true happiness. The qualities of water are divine, and in the realm of the departed these qualities become especially evident.”

Word by Word

अल्पsmall, little

व्ययम्expenditure, cost

महत्great

अर्थम्benefit, gain

चand

प्रेत्यhaving departed (after death)

चand

एवindeed, certainly

सुखhappiness, comfort

उदयम्arising, attainment

पानीयस्यof water (drinkable water)

गुणाःqualities, virtues

दिव्याःdivine, heavenly

प्रेतलोकेin the world of the departed

विशेषतःespecially, particularly

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yama

pānīya (water)

preta-loka (realm of the departed)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes