Shloka 98
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
Devanagari script
न धर्म: प्रीयते तात दानैर्दत्तैमहाफलै:
Transliteration
na dharmaḥ prīyate tāta dānaiḥ dattaiḥ mahāphalaiḥ
Translation
「わが子よ、ダルマはただ施しによってのみ真に喜ぶのではない――たとえそれが大いなる果をもたらす豪奢な施しであっても。」
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
धर्मःdharma; righteousness
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रीयतेis pleased; becomes pleased
प्रीयते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्री (प्रीञ्)
FormPresent, Atmanepada (passive-like intransitive usage), Third, Singular
तातdear one; son (vocative)
तात:
TypeNoun
Rootतात
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
दानैःby gifts; by acts of giving
दानैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदान
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
दत्तैःgiven; bestowed
दत्तैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootदत्त (√दा)
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
महाफलैःwith great results; highly fruitful
महाफलैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाफल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
श्षशुर उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that Dharma is not satisfied by the external magnitude or apparent merit of charity alone; ethical worth depends on deeper factors such as right intention, propriety, and alignment with righteous conduct.
An elder (addressing someone affectionately as “tāta”) offers moral counsel, cautioning that even grand, highly rewarding donations do not automatically please Dharma, implying that righteousness requires more than impressive acts of giving.