Shloka 23

Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

राजा सुमन्युने भक्ष्य, भोज्य पदार्थोंके पर्वत-जैसे कितने ही ढेर लगाकर उन्हें शाण्डिल्यको दान दिया था। जिससे उन्होंने स्वर्गलोकमें स्थान प्राप्त कर लिया ।।

Transliteration

rājā sumanyunā bhakṣya-bhojya-padārthānāṃ parvata-sadṛśān bahūn nikṣepān kṛtvā tān śāṇḍilyāya dānaṃ dattavān; tena sa svargaloke sthānaṃ prāptavān. nāmnā ca dyutimān nāma śālvarājo mahādyutiḥ; dattvā rājyam ṛcīkāya gato lokān anuttamān mahātejasvī.

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜା ସୁମନ୍ୟୁ ଭକ୍ଷ୍ୟ-ଭୋଜ୍ୟ ପଦାର୍ଥର ପର୍ବତସମ ଢେର ଶାଣ୍ଡିଲ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ଦାନ କରି, ସେହି ପୁଣ୍ୟରେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗଲୋକରେ ସ୍ଥାନ ପାଇଲେ। ଏହିପରି ମହାଦ୍ୟୁତିମାନ ଶାଲ୍ୱରାଜ ‘ଦ୍ୟୁତିମାନ’ ମହର୍ଷି ଋଚୀକଙ୍କୁ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଦେଇ ଅନୁତ୍ତମ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ଗଲେ। ଏହି ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗ ଦାନ ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟତ୍ୟାଗ—ଉଭୟର ମହିମା ଦର୍ଶାଏ, ଯାହା ପରମ ଶ୍ରେୟକୁ ନେଇଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• द्युतिमान्: radiant, illustrious
• द्युतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्युतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: name
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• शाल्वराजः: the king of Śālva
• शाल्वराजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्वराज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाद्युतिः: of great splendor
• महाद्युतिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाद्युति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• राज्यम्: kingdom, sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ऋचीकाय: to Ṛcīka (the sage)
• ऋचीकाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋचीक
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• गतः: gone, departed
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लोकान्: worlds, realms
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अनुत्तमान्: unsurpassed, excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Sumanyu
• Shandilya
• Dyutiman
• Shalva (kingdom/people)
• Richika (Rishi)
• Svargaloka (heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That generous giving (dāna), especially of substantial sustenance, and the willingness to relinquish power (rājya-tyāga) for a higher good are powerful dharmic acts that yield exalted spiritual results—symbolized here by attaining heaven and ‘unsurpassed worlds’.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma cites exemplary precedents: Sumanyu donates vast heaps of provisions to the sage Shandilya and gains a heavenly station; similarly, the Shalva king Dyutiman transfers his kingdom to the sage Richika and departs to supreme realms, illustrating how righteous generosity and renunciation elevate one’s destiny.