Shloka 29

Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: Abhaya, Anugraha, and the Ethics of Honoring the Worthy (दानश्रेष्ठता: अभय-अनुग्रह-विप्रपूजा)

Devanagari script

ब्राह्म॒ण्यं काड्क्षसे हि त्वं तपश्न पृथिवीपते । अवमन्य नरेन्द्रत्वं देवेन्द्रत्व॑ं च पार्थिव

Transliteration

brāhmaṇyaṁ kāṅkṣase hi tvaṁ tapaś ca pṛthivīpate | avamanya narendratvaṁ devendratvaṁ ca pārthiva ||

Translation

ຈະຍະວະນະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ຈອມເຈົ້າແຫ່ງແຜ່ນດິນ! ເຈົ້າປາຖະໜາສະຖານະແຫ່ງພຣາຫມັນ (brāhmaṇa) ແລະ ກໍຖືກດຶງດູດໄປຫາຕະປະ. ໂອ ພະຣາຊາ! ເຈົ້າຍອມວາງໄວ້ແມ່ນແຕ່ອຳນາດເຫນືອມະນຸດ ແລະ ຄວາມເປັນຈອມເທວະດາດັ່ງອິນທຣະ ເພື່ອສືບຫາພຣາຫມັນພາບ»។

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मण्यं: Brahminhood, the state of being a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मण्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण्य (ब्राह्मणत्व)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• काङ्क्षसे: you desire
• काङ्क्षसे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: काङ्क्ष्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• त्वं: you
• त्वं: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: and (also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पृथिवीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अवमन्य: having disrespected, having slighted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवमन्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada (root-based; gerund is voice-neutral)

• नरेन्द्रत्वं: kingship, the status of a king
• नरेन्द्रत्वं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेन्द्रत्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• देवेन्द्रत्वं: Indrahood, the status of the lord of gods
• देवेन्द्रत्वं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेन्द्रत्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• पार्थिव: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

च्यवन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Chyavana (Cyavana)
• pṛthivīpati (the king addressed)
• Indra (Devendra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical hierarchy of values: spiritual discipline (tapas) and the ideal of brahminhood—associated with self-control, learning, and inner authority—are presented as aspirations that can be valued even above worldly sovereignty and celestial power.

What is happening in the narrative?

The sage Chyavana addresses a king, noting with emphasis that the king is seeking brahminhood and austerity while disregarding both ordinary kingship and even the exalted status of Indra—framing the king’s request as an extraordinary turn from power toward ascetic-spiritual aims.