Shloka 12

Adhyāya 11 — Maṇḍala-vicāra and Ṣāḍguṇya-prayoga

Circle-of-Kings Analysis and the Six Policies

Devanagari script

ददातु राजा वित्रेभ्यो यथेष्ट क्रियतां व्यय: । पुत्राणां सुहृदां चैव गच्छत्वानृण्यमद्य सः

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | dadātu rājā viprebhyo yatheṣṭaṃ kriyatāṃ vyayaḥ | putrāṇāṃ suhṛdāṃ caiva gacchatvānṛṇyam adya saḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Que el rey dé a los brahmanes cuanto deseen; que el gasto se haga según su voluntad. Que hoy quede libre de toda obligación—la debida a sus hijos y la debida a sus bienhechores y amigos».

Word by Word

• ददातु: let (him) give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), 3, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• वित्त्रेभ्यः: to the wealthy/benefactors (recipients)
• वित्त्रेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त्र (वित्तिन्/वित्तवत् अर्थे; दातारः/धनिनः)
• Form: masculine, dative, plural

• यथेष्टम्: as desired; at will
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + इष्ट (इष्/इच्छ्; इष्ट = desired)

• क्रियताम्: let it be done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करणे)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 3, singular, कर्मणि (passive)

• व्ययः: expenditure; spending
• व्ययः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पुत्राणाम्: of (his) sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• सुहृदाम्: of (his) friends/well-wishers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

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

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• गच्छतु: let (him) go/attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गत्यर्थे)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 3, singular, परस्मैपदम्

• आनृण्यम्: freedom from debt/obligation
• आनृण्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनृण्य (a-nṛṇa; freedom from debt/obligation)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सः)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• rājā (the king)
• vipra (Brahmins)
• putra (sons)
• suhṛd (friends/well-wishers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that righteous giving (dāna) and settling obligations are part of dharma: a king should distribute wealth appropriately, and one should aim to become anṛṇa—free from debts and duties—before moving forward to the next stage of life or undertaking austere vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports an instruction or resolve that the king should give generously to Brahmins and spend as needed, so that on that very day he becomes free from obligations toward his sons and friends—suggesting a formal settling of accounts and responsibilities in preparation for withdrawal/transition.