Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 16

Nakṣatra-yoga-anusāreṇa Dāna-vidhiḥ

Gifts prescribed according to lunar mansions and yogas

Devanagari script

माध्यन्दिनं ते सवनं ददतस्तात वर्तताम्‌

Transliteration

mādhyandinaṃ te savanaṃ dadatastāta vartatām

Translation

भीष्म बोले—“वत्स, तुम जो मध्यान्ह-सवन का अर्घ्य अर्पित कर रहे हो, वह मंगलपूर्वक सम्पन्न हो।”

Word by Word

• माध्यन्दिनम्: midday (rite/oblation)
• माध्यन्दिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माध्यन्दिन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ते: of you / your
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• सवनम्: pressing; Soma-rite; sacrificial session
• सवनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ददतः: gives
• ददतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular

• तात: dear one / father (voc.)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वर्तताम्: let it proceed / let it continue
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: Imperative, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• tāta (addressed person, unspecified)
• mādhyandina-savana (midday sacrificial offering)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse conveys an auspicious benediction: righteous acts—especially sacred duties like ritual offerings—should be carried out smoothly and properly, and elders bless the performer for successful completion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma addresses someone affectionately (“tāta”) and offers a formal good-wish that the person’s midday sacrificial offering (mādhyandina-savana) may proceed without obstacle, reflecting the ritual and dharmic tone of the Anuśāsana teachings.