Shloka 14
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
Devanagari script
सर्वेषामिति दानानां तिलदानं विशिष्यते । अक्षयं सर्वदानानां तिलदानमिहोच्यते
Transliteration
sarveṣām iti dānānāṃ tiladānaṃ viśiṣyate | akṣayaṃ sarvadānānāṃ tiladānam ihocyate ||
Translation
భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు—సర్వ దానాలలో తిలదానం విశేషంగా శ్రేష్ఠమైనది. ఇక్కడ తిలదానాన్ని అన్ని దానాలలో ‘అక్షయ’ ఫలమిచ్చేదిగా ప్రకటించారు.
Word by Word
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
इतिthus (quotative)
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
दानानाम्of gifts/charities
दानानाम्:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootदान
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
तिलदानम्sesame-gift (gift of sesame)
तिलदानम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतिलदान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
विशिष्यतेis distinguished/excels
विशिष्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootविशिष्
FormPresent, 3, Singular, Atmanepada, Active (middle endings)
अक्षयम्imperishable, inexhaustible
अक्षयम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअक्षय
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
सर्वदानानाम्of all gifts
सर्वदानानाम्:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वदान
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
तिलदानम्sesame-gift
तिलदानम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतिलदान
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इहhere (in this world/teaching)
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
उच्यतेis said/called
उच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPresent, 3, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaT
tila (sesame)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that tiladāna (donating sesame) is uniquely meritorious among charities, described as akṣaya—yielding enduring, non-diminishing spiritual merit.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the relative excellence of various gifts, highlighting sesame-donation as especially efficacious.