Shloka 97
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
Devanagari script
रन्तिदेवो हि नृपतिरप: प्रादादकिंचन:
Transliteration
rantidevo hi nṛpatir apaḥ prādād akiñcanaḥ
Translation
O rei Rantideva, embora nada possuísse para si, doou até mesmo água.
Word by Word
रन्तिदेवःRantideva
रन्तिदेवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरन्तिदेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
नृपतिःking
नृपतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृपति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपःwaters (water)
अपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअप्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
प्रादात्gave
प्रादात्:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
FormAorist (simple past), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अकिञ्चनःhaving nothing; destitute (yet generous)
अकिञ्चनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअकिञ्चन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
श्षशुर उवाच
Characters & Entities
R
RantidevaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dāna as a central form of dharma: even when one has almost nothing, giving what sustains life (like water) for the sake of others is presented as exemplary righteousness and compassion.
The speaker cites King Rantideva as an illustrative precedent: despite being akiñcana (without personal possessions), he still gave away water, emphasizing an ideal of selfless generosity.