Shloka 19

Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)

Devanagari script

पितृयज्ञास्तथा कृपा: प्रपाश्ष शयनानि च । दानानि च यथाकाल द्विजेभ्यो विसृजेत्‌ सदा

Transliteration

pitṛyajñās tathā kṛpāḥ prapāś śayanāni ca | dānāni ca yathākālaṃ dvijebhyo visṛjet sadā ||

Translation

ପିତୃମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପିତୃୟଜ୍ଞ (ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ-ତର୍ପଣ) କରିବା, କୃପା ରଖିବା, ଲୋକହିତାର୍ଥେ ପାନୀୟଜଳ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା କରିବା, ପଥିକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଶୟନ-ବିଶ୍ରାମ ସ୍ଥାନ ଯୋଗାଇବା, ଏବଂ ଯଥାକାଳ ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନଙ୍କୁ (ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କୁ) ଦାନ ଦେଇ ଯିବା—ଏହି ସବୁ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ସଦା ପାଳନୀୟ।

Word by Word

• पितृयज्ञाः: rites/offerings to the ancestors
• पितृयज्ञाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृयज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• कूपाः: wells
• कूपाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रपाः: water-sheds/drinking-water stations
• प्रपाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• शयनानि: resting-places/beds (lodgings)
• शयनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

• दानानि: gifts/charities
• दानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

• यथाकालम्: at the proper time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-काल

• द्विजेभ्यः: to the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• विसृजेत्: should give/dispense
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√सृज्
• Form: Vidhi-ling (optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Dvijas (twice-born/Brahmins)
• Prapā (public water-station)
• Śayana (beds/resting-places)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is expressed through sustained, timely beneficence: honoring ancestors (pitṛyajña/śrāddha), practicing compassion, creating public utilities like water-stations and lodging, and giving appropriate gifts—especially to dvijas—at the right time.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Indra speaks as a moral authority, enumerating concrete duties and charitable works that uphold social order and generate lasting merit.