Shloka 12

अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā

Devanagari script

क्रियानियमितान्‌ साधुन्‌ पुत्रदारैश्व॒ कर्शितान्‌ अयाचमानान्‌ कौन्तेय सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत्‌

Transliteration

kriyā-niyamitān sādhūn putra-dāraiś ca karśitān | ayācamānān kaunteya sarvopāyair nimantrayet ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ କୌନ୍ତେୟ! ଯେମାନେ ସତ୍କର୍ମରେ ନିୟମିତ, କିନ୍ତୁ ପୁତ୍ର-ଦାର ପାଳନଭାରରେ କ୍ଲାନ୍ତ, ତଥାପି କାହା ପାଖରେ ଯାଚନା କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ—ସେହି ସାଧୁଜନଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଉପାୟରେ ଡାକି ସହାୟତା କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• क्रिया-नियमितान्: disciplined/regulated by (good) conduct
• क्रिया-नियमितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया-नियमित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• साधून्: good/virtuous men
• साधून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पुत्र-दारैः: by sons and wives (i.e., with family responsibilities)
• पुत्र-दारैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-दार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• कर्शितान्: afflicted/harassed
• कर्शितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्शित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अयाचमानान्: not begging; not asking (for help)
• अयाचमानान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयाचमान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कौन्तेय: O son of Kuntī
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्व-उपायैः: by all means; with every method
• सर्व-उपायैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-उपाय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• निमन्त्रयेत्: should invite/solicit (to help/support)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + मन्त्र्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कुन्ती-नन्दन: O delight/son of Kuntī
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्ती-नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kaunteya (Yudhishthira)
• Kunti

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Charity should be proactive and discerning: one should seek out and support virtuous, self-respecting people who suffer silently while fulfilling family duties, rather than waiting for them to beg.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, he advises how to practice giving: identify disciplined, righteous householders strained by family responsibilities who do not ask for help, and assist them through all appropriate means.