Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

ता इमा बिप्रमुख्येभ्यो यो ददाति महीपते । निस्तरेदापदं कृच्छां विषमस्थो5पि पार्थिव

Transliteration

tā imā vipramukhye bhyo yo dadāti mahīpate | nistared āpadaṃ kṛcchrāṃ viṣamastho 'pi pārthiva ||

Translation

Bhishma dijo: «Oh rey, quien entregue estas vacas a los más eminentes brahmanes cruzará incluso una calamidad gravísima. Aun si un soberano se halla en situación peligrosa, tal dádiva se vuelve medio de liberación de una aflicción pesada».

Word by Word

• ताः: those (f.)
• ताः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इमाः: these (f.)
• इमाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• विप्रमुख्येभ्यः: to the foremost Brahmins
• विप्रमुख्येभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी, बहुवचन

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ददाति: gives
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, एकवचन

• महीपते: O king (lord of the earth)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपतिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निस्तरेत्: would cross over, would be delivered
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्तॄ (तरणे) / निस्तरति (धातु-प्रयोग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आशीः), प्रथम, एकवचन

• आपदम्: calamity, distress
• आपदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृच्छाम्: severe, grievous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विषमस्थः: being in a difficult situation
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषमस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• पार्थिव: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भूपाल: O protector of the earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पृथ्वीनाथ: O lord of the earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वीनाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (Yudhishthira, implied addressee)
• foremost Brahmins
• cows (as the gift)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that go-dāna—especially to worthy, eminent Brahmins—is a powerful dharmic act whose merit protects a ruler and helps him overcome even severe संकट (āpada), emphasizing charity as a practical support for ethical kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on duties and meritorious acts. Here he highlights the efficacy of donating the specified cows to excellent Brahmins, assuring that such a gift brings deliverance even when the king is trapped in grave danger.