Shloka 11

Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

निमी राष्ट्रं च वैदर्भि: कन्यां दत्त्वा महात्मने । अगस्त्याय गतः स्वर्ग सपुत्रपशुबान्धव:

Transliteration

nimī rāṣṭraṃ ca vaidarbhīḥ kanyāṃ dattvā mahātmane | agastyāya gataḥ svargaṃ saputra-paśu-bāndhavaḥ ||

Translation

भीष्म उवाच— वैदर्भिर् राजा निमिः महात्मनेऽगस्त्याय राष्ट्रं च कन्यां च दत्त्वा, सपुत्रपशुबान्धवः स्वर्गं जगाम।

Word by Word

• निमिः: Nimi (the king)
• निमिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राष्ट्रम्: kingdom
• राष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• वैदर्भीम्: the princess of Vidarbha (his daughter)
• वैदर्भीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदर्भी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कन्याम्: daughter, maiden
• कन्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• अगस्त्याय: to Agastya
• अगस्त्याय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• गतः: went / having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गच्छति)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used predicatively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (सह)

• पुत्र: sons
• पुत्र: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural, in compound with 'स' (saha) sense

• पशु: cattle/animals
• पशु: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural, in compound with 'स' (saha) sense

• बान्धवैः: kinsmen/relatives
• बान्धवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Nimi
• Vidarbha
• Agastya
• Svarga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dāna and tyāga: when a ruler relinquishes even the highest worldly possessions (kingdom and familial ties) to a worthy, virtuous recipient, such selfless giving is portrayed as dharmic and as leading to heavenly merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma recounts that King Nimi of Vidarbha gave his kingdom and his daughter to the sage Agastya, and thereafter attained Svarga along with his sons, cattle, and relatives—an exemplum used to praise generous, righteous giving.