Shloka 12

Devanagari script

देवानिष्टवा तपस्तप्त्वा कृपणै: पुत्रगृद्धिभि:

Transliteration

devān iṣṭvā tapas taptvā kṛpaṇaiḥ putragṛddhibhiḥ

Translation

“Having worshipped the gods and performed austerities, (many do so) with a miserly spirit—driven by craving for sons.”

Word by Word

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इष्ट्वा: having worshipped/sacrificed to
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: क्त्वा, Parasmaipada (usage), Absolutive (gerund)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तप्त्वा: having performed (austerity), having practiced
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप्
• Form: क्त्वा, Parasmaipada (usage), Absolutive (gerund)

• कृपणैः: by/with wretched, miserly (persons)
• कृपणैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पुत्रगृद्धिभिः: by those greedy for sons
• पुत्रगृद्धिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रगृद्धि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

व्याध उवाच

Characters & Entities

• देवाः (the gods)
• पुत्र (sons/offspring)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse critiques religious acts—worship and austerity—when they are fueled by narrow self-interest, especially attachment to progeny. It implies that the ethical worth of tapas and devotion depends on intention: practice aimed at dharma and inner purification is superior to practice driven by craving and acquisitiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vyādha’s discourse on dharma (Vana Parva), he instructs his listener by exposing common but flawed motivations behind piety. Here he points to people who worship the gods and undertake austerities not for righteousness or liberation, but out of greedy longing for sons.