Shloka 16

Āśvamedhika-parva, Adhyāya 14

Consolation of Yudhiṣṭhira; Rites and Gifts; Return to Hastināpura

Devanagari script

ततो दत्त्वा बहुधनं विप्रेभ्य: पाण्डवर्षभ:

Transliteration

tato dattvā bahudhanaṃ viprebhyaḥ pāṇḍavarṣabhaḥ

Translation

Then the bull among the Pāṇḍavas bestowed abundant wealth upon the brāhmaṇas—an act that affirms the kingly duty of generosity and the ethical ideal of sustaining those devoted to learning and sacred rites.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पञ्चमी-अर्थे: 'from/thereafter')

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having given'

• बहु-धनम्: much wealth
• बहु-धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + बहु (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विप्रेभ्यः: to the brahmins
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचन

• पाण्डव-ऋषभः: the bull among the Pandavas (best of the Pandavas)
• पाण्डव-ऋषभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक) + पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍava (best among the Pāṇḍavas)
• Brāhmaṇas (vipras)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dāna as a key element of rājadharma: a righteous ruler supports brāhmaṇas and sacred institutions through generous gifts, using wealth as a means of sustaining dharma rather than mere personal enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the foremost Pāṇḍava, in the course of events in this section, gives abundant wealth to the brāhmaṇas—indicating the performance of proper royal patronage and the honoring of ritual and learning.