Shloka 21
Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)
Devanagari script
ब्राह्मणो हि महदभूतं स्वयं देहीति याचति । अकामो वा सकामो वा दत्त्वा पुण्यमवाप्रुयात्
Translation
A brāhmaṇa is indeed a great being. If he himself asks, “Give me food,” then one should bestow food in charity—whether with desire for reward or without desire—and thereby attain merit.
Word by Word
ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
महत्great
महत्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अभूतम्a being/creature (lit. existent)
अभूतम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअभूत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
स्वयम्himself
स्वयम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम्
देहिgive (to me)
देहि:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
इतिthus (quoting)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
याचतिbegs/asks
याचति:
TypeVerb
Rootयाच्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
अकामःwithout desire (disinterested)
अकामः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअकाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
सकामःwith desire (interested)
सकामः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसकाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
दत्त्वाhaving given
दत्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada
पुण्यम्merit/virtue
पुण्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अवाप्नुयात्would obtain/should obtain
अवाप्नुयात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअव + आप्
FormOptative (Potential), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
नारद उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes