Shloka 223

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)

Devanagari script

बभूव तेषां रजनी ब्राह्मीव प्रीतिवर्धिनी । उस रातमें मुख्य-मुख्य ब्राह्मण स्वाध्याय करते थे और जहाँ-तहाँ अग्निहोत्रकी आग प्रज्वलित हो रही थी। इससे वह रजनी उन लोगोंके लिये ब्राह्मी निशाके समान आनन्द बढ़ानेवाली हो रही थी

Transliteration

babhūva teṣāṃ rajanī brāhmīva prītivardhinī |

Translation

ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସେହି ରଜନୀ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମୀ ନିଶା ପରି ପ୍ରୀତିବର୍ଧିନୀ ହେଲା। ସେ ରାତିରେ ପ୍ରମୁଖ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ସ୍ୱାଧ୍ୟାୟ କରୁଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଯେଉଁଠି-ସେଉଁଠି ଅଗ୍ନିହୋତ୍ରର ଅଗ୍ନି ପ୍ରଜ୍ୱଳିତ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• बभूव: became/was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तेषाम्: of them/for them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं (सर्वनाम), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मी: Brahmic/sacred (pertaining to Brahman/Brahmā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• प्रीतिवर्धिनी: increasing joy/pleasure
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति-वर्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक; वर्धिन्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: स्त्री, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• brāhmaṇas
• svādhyāya (Vedic recitation)
• agnihotra (sacrificial fire-rite)
• agni (sacred fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic restoration through svādhyāya and agnihotra: disciplined learning and daily sacred duty cultivate inner joy (prīti) and sanctify communal life, especially in an āśrama setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

A peaceful night is described: leading brāhmaṇas are reciting Vedic texts, and agnihotra fires burn in various places. This makes the night feel spiritually charged—‘brāhmī’—and uplifting for those present.