Shloka 36

Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya

Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa

Devanagari script

षष्टिहद उपस्पृश्य चान्नदानाद्‌ विशिष्यते । दशतीर्थसहस्त्राणि तिसत्र: कोट्यस्तथा परा:

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭihada upaspṛśya cānna-dānād viśiṣyate | daśa-tīrtha-sahasrāṇi tisraḥ koṭyas tathā parāḥ ||

Translation

षष्टिहद् उपस्पृश्य चान्नदानाद् विशिष्यते । दशतीर्थसहस्राणि तिस्रः कोट्यस्तथा पराः ॥

Word by Word

• षष्टिहदः: the (rite/person called) Ṣaṣṭihad
• षष्टिहदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टिहद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपस्पृश्य: having sipped/touched (water) for purification
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपस्पृश्
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), having touched (water), having performed ācamana

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

• अन्नदानात्: from food-giving; than the gift of food
• अन्नदानात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नदान
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• दशतीर्थसहस्राणि: thousands of (sets of) ten tīrthas
• दशतीर्थसहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशतीर्थसहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• त्रिंशत्: thirty
• त्रिंशत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कोट्यः: crores (tens of millions)
• कोट्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• पराः: further/greater; beyond
• पराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

अजड्रिय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• anna-dāna (gift of food)
• tīrtha (sacred places of pilgrimage)
• upaspṛśya (ritual water-touching/purification)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates annadāna (giving food) as an exceptionally powerful form of charity, portrayed as surpassing or equaling vast quantities of tīrtha-related merit; it frames nourishment of others as a high dharmic act.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ajadriya is praising specific dharmic practices by ranking their spiritual efficacy: after noting ritual purification (touching water), he declares that giving food is especially meritorious, comparing its fruit to immense pilgrimage merit.