Shloka 11

धृतराष्ट्रोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Instruction on Rājadharma and Bala

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मदेयाग्रहारांश्व॒ पुत्राणामौर्ध्वदेहिकम्‌ । इतो रत्नानि गाश्चैव दासीदासमजाविकम्‌

Transliteration

brahmadeyāgrahārāṁś ca putrāṇām aurdhvadehikam | ito ratnāni gāś caiva dāsīdāsam ajāvikam ||

Translation

(ਉਸ ਨੇ) ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਦੇਯ ਅਤੇ ਕਰ-ਮੁਕਤ ਪਿੰਡ (ਅਗ੍ਰਹਾਰ) ਦਿੱਤੇ, ਅਤੇ ਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਲਈ ਔਰਧ੍ਵਦੇਹਿਕ ਕਰਮ (ਸ਼ਰਾਧ ਆਦਿ) ਕੀਤੇ। ਫਿਰ ਰਤਨ, ਗਾਂਵਾਂ, ਦਾਸੀ-ਦਾਸ, ਅਤੇ ਬੱਕਰੀਆਂ-ਭੇਡਾਂ ਵੀ ਦਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मदेय: brahmadeya grants (gifts to Brahmins)
• ब्रह्मदेय: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मदेय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अग्रहारान्: agrahāras (tax-free village/land grants)
• अग्रहारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रहार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• पुत्राणाम्: of/for the sons
• पुत्राणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• और्ध्वदेहिकम्: funeral/after-death rite (śrāddha-related)
• और्ध्वदेहिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: और्ध्वदेहिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इत: here; from here; hence
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस्

• रत्नानि: gems, valuables
• रत्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

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

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

• दासी: female slaves/servants
• दासी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• दासम्: a male slave/servant
• दासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अजाविकम्: goats-and-sheep (small cattle)
• अजाविकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजाविक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmadeya (Brahmin endowments)
• Agrahāra (tax-free villages)
• Aurdhvadehika rites (post-funeral rites)
• Jewels
• Cows
• Female servants (dāsī)
• Male servants (dāsa)
• Goats
• Sheep

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma through two linked duties: honoring the dead via aurdhvadehika rites and practicing dāna (charitable giving). It presents ethical kingship and household responsibility as expressed through ritual propriety and redistribution of wealth.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator describes a sequence of acts: arrangements of Brahmin endowments and agrahāras, performance of the sons’ post-funeral rites, and subsequent gifting of valuables and livestock (and household dependents) as part of formal charity and settling of obligations.