Shloka 1

गोप्रदान-माहात्म्ये गोलोक-प्रश्नः

Gopradāna-Māhātmya: Inquiry into Goloka

Devanagari script

न्ीप्ज््ल््िसस ' बे । नत२स्‍प्स्स्न्िपनासज्स अष्टषष्टितमो< ध्याय: तिल

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: Tilānāṁ kīdṛśaṁ dānam atha dīpasya caiva hi | Annānāṁ vāsasāṁ caiva bhūya eva bravīhi me ||

Translation

ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ—ପିତାମହ! ତିଳଦାନର ସତ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱରୂପ ଓ ଫଳ କିପରି? ଏବଂ ଦୀପଦାନର ମହତ୍ତ୍ୱ କ’ଣ? ଅନ୍ନଦାନ ଓ ବସ୍ତ୍ରଦାନର ମହିମା ମଧ୍ୟ ମୋତେ ପୁଣି ଅଧିକ ବିସ୍ତାରରେ କହନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तिलानाम्: of sesame seeds
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कीदृशम्: what kind (of), of what nature
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दानम्: gift, donation
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अथ: and then; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• दीपस्य: of a lamp
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• अन्नानाम्: of food-grains
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वाससाम्: of garments
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• एव: also; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भूयः: again; further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ब्रवीहि: tell; speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)
• tilāḥ (sesame seeds)
• dīpa (lamp)
• anna (food)
• vāsas (clothing)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dāna as a central dharma and asks specifically about the ethical and spiritual efficacy (fruit) of giving essentials—sesame, light, food, and clothing—implying that charity is evaluated by both substance and purpose: sustaining life (food, clothing) and dispelling darkness (lamp), alongside ritual-ethical gifts (sesame).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira questions Bhīṣma (the Grandsire) and requests a fuller explanation of the merits and significance of particular forms of charity—tiladāna, dīpadāna, annadāna, and vāsodāna—setting up Bhīṣma’s ensuing discourse.