Shloka 7

Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

पितृणां परमं भोज्यं तिला: सृष्टा: स्वयम्भुवा । तिलदानेन वै तस्मात्‌ पितृपक्ष: प्रमोदते,ब्रह्माजीने जो तिल उत्पन्न किये हैं, वे पितरोंके सर्वश्रेष्ठ खाद्य पदार्थ हैं। इसलिये तिल दान करनेसे पितरोंको बड़ी प्रसन्नता होती है

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | pitṝṇāṃ paramaṃ bhojyaṃ tilāḥ sṛṣṭāḥ svayambhuvā | tiladānena vai tasmāt pitṛpakṣaḥ pramodate ||

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സ്വയംഭൂ ബ്രഹ്മാവാൽ സൃഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെട്ട എള്ളുകൾ പിതൃകൾക്കുള്ള പരമഭോജ്യം ആകുന്നു; അതുകൊണ്ട് തിലദാനം ചെയ്താൽ പിതൃപക്ഷത്തിൽ പിതൃകൾ അത്യന്തം പ്രസന്നരാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

पितृणाम्of the ancestors (pitṛs)

परमम्supreme, best

भोज्यम्food; that which is to be eaten

तिलाःsesame seeds

सृष्टाःcreated

स्वयम्भुवाby the Self-born (Brahmā)

तिलदानेनby the giving of sesame (sesame-donation)

वैindeed

तस्मात्therefore; from that (reason)

पितृपक्षःthe Pitṛs’ side/party; the ancestors (collectively)

प्रमोदतेrejoices; is greatly pleased

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Pitṛs (ancestors)

Svayambhū (Brahmā)

Tilāḥ (sesame seeds)

Pitṛpakṣa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sesame is presented as the most fitting offering for the ancestors; donating it during ancestral rites is a dharmic act that brings satisfaction to the Pitṛs, emphasizing sincerity and prescribed simplicity in ritual charity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and gifts (dāna) within the Anuśāsana Parva, he explains the special ritual value of sesame in śrāddha-related observances, linking its cosmic origin (from Brahmā) to its efficacy for Pitṛs, especially in Pitṛpakṣa.