Shloka 20

Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity

Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

अलंकृतानां देवेश दिव्यै: कनकभूषणै: । रथानां काञज्चनाड़ानां सहस्राण्यददं दश

Transliteration

alaṅkṛtānāṃ deveśa divyaiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ | rathānāṃ kāñcanāḍyānāṃ sahasrāṇy adadaṃ daśa ||

Translation

ഭഗീരഥൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ദേവേശാ! ദിവ്യമായ സ്വർണാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ട, സ്വർണമയ അംശങ്ങളുള്ള പത്തായിരം രഥങ്ങളെ ഞാൻ ദാനമായി നൽകി—സമൃദ്ധവും ദീപ്തവുമായവ।

Word by Word

• अलंकृतानाम्: of the adorned
• अलंकृतानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृत (अलम् + कृ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• देवेश: O lord of the gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दिव्यैः: with divine
• दिव्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कनकभूषणैः: with golden ornaments
• कनकभूषणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनकभूषण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• रथानाम्: of chariots
• रथानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• काञ्चनाङ्गानाम्: of those having golden parts (gold-adorned)
• काञ्चनाङ्गानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनाङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अददम्: I gave
• अददम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दश: ten
• दश: Karma
• Type: Numeral
• Root: दश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भगीरथ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Deveśa (Lord of the gods)
• ratha (chariots)
• kanaka-bhūṣaṇa (gold ornaments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dāna-dharma: offering valuable gifts with devotion and purity of intent. Wealth is framed as an instrument for righteousness and merit rather than mere personal enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhagīratha addresses a divine lord (deveśa) and recounts his act of giving: ten thousand chariots richly adorned with divine gold ornaments, emphasizing the magnitude and splendor of his charitable offering.