Shloka 13

अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः

The Commencement of the Great Departure

Devanagari script

अभोजयत्‌ स्वादु भोज्यं कीर्तयित्वा च शार्द्धिणम्‌ । ददौ रत्नानि वासांसि ग्रामानश्चान्‌ रथांस्तथा

Transliteration

abhojayat svādu bhojyaṁ kīrtayitvā ca śārddhiṇam | dadau ratnāni vāsāṁsi grāmāṁś cān rathāṁs tathā ||

Translation

Lalu, setelah memuji penerima śrāddha yang patut, ia menjamunya dengan hidangan yang lezat. Sesudah itu ia menganugerahkan permata dan pakaian, serta menghadiahkan desa-desa dan kereta-kereta perang.

Word by Word

• अभोजयत्: made (someone) eat; fed
• अभोजयत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (भोजने) / भोजयति (णिच्)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative (णिच्)

• स्वादु: tasty, delicious
• स्वादु: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भोज्यम्: food; something to be eaten
• भोज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कीर्तयित्वा: having praised; having proclaimed
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय् (कीर्तने) / कीर्तयति (णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वा (Absolutive/Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

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

• शार्द्धिणम्: the benefactor/wealthy patron (one possessing riches)
• शार्द्धिणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्द्धिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रत्नानि: gems, jewels
• रत्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• वासांसि: garments, clothes
• वासांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• ग्रामान्: villages
• ग्रामान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• अन्: also (particle; text-variant)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन् (enclitic particle, emphatic/augmentative; variant of 'अपि/अनु' in some recensions)

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: likewise; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• ratnāni (jewels)
• vāsāṁsi (garments)
• grāmāḥ (villages)
• rathāḥ (chariots)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharmic generosity: honoring a deserving person through respectful praise, hospitality (feeding), and material gifts. Ethical giving is portrayed as deliberate, public recognition of merit rather than mere display of wealth.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a scene of formal honoring: the recipient is first extolled, then served a fine meal, and finally rewarded with valuable gifts—jewels, clothing, and even substantial grants like villages and chariots.