Shloka 273

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

Devanagari script

प्रदाय सुरलोकस्थ: पुण्यान्तेडपि न चाल्यते । जो सर्दी, गर्मी और हवाके वेगको सहन करनेयोग्य सजी-सजायी गृह-भूमि दान करता है, वह देवलोकमें निवास करता है। पुण्यका भोग समाप्त होनेपर भी वहाँसे हटाया नहीं जाता

Transliteration

pradāya suralokasthaḥ puṇyānte’pi na cālyate |

Translation

Bhīṣma said: One who gives in charity a well-prepared homestead—fit to endure cold, heat, and the force of winds—attains residence in the world of the gods. Even when the enjoyment of that merit comes to an end, he is not cast down from there. The teaching praises thoughtful, welfare-oriented giving: a gift that truly shelters and sustains others yields enduring spiritual reward.

Word by Word

• प्रदाय: having given (after giving)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• सुरलोकस्थः: dwelling in heaven (in the world of the gods)
• सुरलोकस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरलोकस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुण्यान्ते: at the end of merit (when merit is exhausted)
• पुण्यान्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• चाल्यते: is moved/removed (is made to depart)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि (Passive), Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Suraloka (Devaloka, heaven)
• Gṛha-bhūmi (homestead/house-site) (implied by the contextual gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A gift that provides real protection and stability—such as a well-prepared dwelling place—produces exceptionally durable spiritual reward: the donor attains heaven and is not easily dislodged even after the ordinary ‘consumption’ of merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (especially the fruits of dāna), he states the heavenly result of donating a properly arranged homestead that can withstand harsh weather, emphasizing the superior merit of practical, compassionate giving.