Shloka 54

Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

पानीयदा हाूतृषिता: प्रह्ृष्टमनसो नरा: । पन्थानं द्योतयन्तश्न यान्ति दीपप्रदा: सुखम्‌,जिन्होंने जल-दान किया है, उन्हें प्यासका कष्ट नहीं भोगना पड़ता, वे लोग प्रसन्नचित्त होकर वहाँ जाते हैं। दीपदान करनेवाले मनुष्य उस मार्गको प्रकाशित करते हुए सुखसे यात्रा करते हैं

Transliteration

pānīyadā hātṛṣitāḥ prahṛṣṭamanaso narāḥ | panthānaṃ dyotayantaś ca yānti dīpapradāḥ sukham ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。「飲み水を施した者は渇きの苦しみに遭わず、喜びの心でその界へ進む。灯を施した者は、道を照らしつつ安らかに旅をする。」

Word by Word

पानीयदाःgivers of drinking-water

हाindeed / emphatic particle

उतृषिताःnot thirsty / free from thirst

प्रहृष्टमनसःwhose minds are delighted

नराःmen

पन्थानम्the path

द्योतयन्तःilluminating

यान्तिgo / proceed

दीपप्रदाःgivers of lamps (light-donors)

सुखम्happily / with ease (as an accusative of manner)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

drinking-water (pānīya)

lamp/light (dīpa)

path/road (panthā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the dharmic principle that practical, compassionate gifts—especially water for the thirsty and lamps for those in darkness—return as corresponding relief and guidance to the giver, symbolizing merit that eases one’s journey and state in the hereafter.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the fruits of specific acts of charity: water-donors are freed from the suffering of thirst and proceed joyfully, while lamp-donors travel happily by illuminating the path—an image of the post-mortem journey made easier through one’s meritorious deeds.