Shloka 38

Devanagari script

स्रग्धूपगन्धाननुलेपनानि स्‍्नानानि माल्यानि च मानवो यः । दद्याद्‌ द्विजेभ्य: स भवेदरोग- स्तथाभिरूपक्ष नरेन्द्र लोके

Transliteration

sragdūpagandhān anulepanāni snānāni mālyāni ca mānavo yaḥ | dadyād dvijebhyaḥ sa bhaved arogaḥ tathābhirūpaś ca narendra loke ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Any person who gives to Brahmins garlands, fragrant substances, unguents, bathing requisites, and floral adornments becomes free from disease and, O king, is also endowed with pleasing form and attractiveness in this world.

Word by Word

• स्रक्: garlands
• स्रक्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• धूप: incense
• धूप: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• गन्धान्: fragrances/perfumes
• गन्धान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अनुलेपनानि: unguents/anointments
• अनुलेपनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलेपन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• स्नानानि: baths/bathing (articles/arrangements)
• स्नानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• माल्यानि: wreaths/flower-ornaments
• माल्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• मानवः: a man/person
• मानवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• द्विजेभ्यः: to the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: would become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अरोगः: free from disease/healthy
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रोग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अभिरूपः: handsome/beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिरूप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• नरेन्द्र: O king (lord of men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• narendra (the king addressed)
• dvija (Brahmins/twice-born)
• srag (garlands)
• dhūpa (incense)
• gandha (fragrances)
• anulepana (unguents)
• snāna (bathing)
• mālya (floral adornments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that giving items connected with cleanliness, fragrance, and dignified personal care—garlands, incense, perfumes, unguents, and bathing requisites—to worthy Brahmins is a dharmic act whose fruit is bodily well-being (freedom from disease) and pleasing appearance for the giver.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues an instruction on dāna (charitable giving) and its results, addressing a king and listing specific gift-items along with the worldly benefits (health and attractiveness) that accrue to the donor.