Shloka 17

अर्जुनदुःखहेतुप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the cause of Arjuna’s recurring hardship

Book 14, Chapter 89

Devanagari script

दत्तैषा भवता महां तां ते प्रतिददाम्पहम्‌

Transliteration

dattaivā bhavatā mahāṁ tāṁ te pratidadāmy aham

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “That great gift has indeed been bestowed by you; I, in turn, give it back to you.”

Word by Word

• दत्ता: given (has been given)
• दत्ता: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषा: this (she/this thing)
• एषा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवता: by you (sir)
• भवता: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महाम्: great
• महाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ताम्: that (her/that thing)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• प्रतिददामि: I give back / I return
• प्रतिददामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) with प्रति- (प्रत्यय/उपसर्ग) → प्रतिदा
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तम, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical reciprocity and restraint: even when a great gift is offered, one may choose to return it, signaling detachment, propriety, or a higher sense of dharma rather than mere acceptance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, a speaker acknowledges having received a significant offering from another and immediately returns it, indicating a formal exchange shaped by honor, duty, and the moral tone of the Ashvamedha-related events.