Shloka 114

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

तथा गोमायुगृध्रा भ्यां प्राददत्‌ क्षुदुविनाशनम्‌

Transliteration

tathā gomāyugṛdhrābhyāṃ prādadat kṣuduvināśanam

Translation

तथा गोमायुगृध्राभ्यां प्राददत् क्षुदुविनाशनम्॥

Word by Word

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

• गोमायुगृध्राभ्याम्: by the jackal and the vulture
• गोमायुगृध्राभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमायु + गृध्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• प्राददत्: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

• क्षुदुविनाशनम्: hunger-destroying (food/remedy)
• क्षुदुविनाशनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद् + विनाशन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• gomāyu (jackal)
• gṛdhra (vulture)
• kṣudh (hunger)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is expressed through practical compassion: removing hunger and distress is a direct moral duty, and benevolence should not be restricted only to the ‘worthy’ or socially esteemed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes an instance where a benefactor gives the jackal and the vulture something that eliminates hunger—an illustrative example used to support a broader ethical point about giving and alleviating suffering.