Shloka 17

Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)

Devanagari script

यदि राज्यं यदि धनं यदि गा: संशितव्रत । यज्ञदानानि च तथा ब्रहि सर्व ददामि ते

Transliteration

yadi rājyaṃ yadi dhanaṃ yadi gāḥ saṃśitavrata | yajñadānāni ca tathā brūhi sarvaṃ dadāmi te ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O sage of firm and austere vows, if it is a kingdom, if it is wealth, if it is cattle, or likewise gifts meant for sacrifice—tell me. I will give you all of it. This royal residence, this realm, and this righteous throne of sovereignty are yours. You are the king—protect this earth. As for me, I shall ever remain a servant, obedient to your command.”

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• राज्यम्: kingdom, sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• संशितव्रत: O one of firm/strict vows
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशितव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यज्ञदानानि: sacrifices and gifts (charities)
• यज्ञदानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञदान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ददामि: I give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Present, First, Singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• an unnamed sage/maharshi (addressed as saṃśitavrata)
• kingdom (rājya)
• wealth (dhana)
• cows/cattle (gāḥ)
• sacrificial gifts (yajñadānāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic generosity and humility: a ruler (or elder statesman) should be ready to relinquish even supreme possessions—kingdom, wealth, cattle, and ritual gifts—when confronted with a higher moral or spiritual claim, and should place righteous authority above personal attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma addresses an austere sage and offers him whatever he might desire—political power, material wealth, cattle, or sacrificial donations—going so far as to say the throne and governance are the sage’s, while Bhīṣma will remain obedient, underscoring deference to spiritual merit and dharmic legitimacy.