Shloka 26

Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

प्रादेशमात्र भूमेस्तु यो दद्यादनुपस्कृतम्‌

Transliteration

prādeśamātra-bhūmes tu yo dadyād anupaskṛtam

Translation

ภีษมะกล่าวว่า แม้ผู้ใดให้ที่ดินเพียงแปลงเล็กตามขนาดวัดได้ โดยให้เรียบง่ายไม่ประดับไม่เพิ่มสิ่งประกอบ ก็ยังนับเป็นทานอันมีความหมาย

Word by Word

• प्रादेशमात्रम्: only a span-measure (i.e., very small amount)
• प्रादेशमात्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादेशमात्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भूमेः: of land/earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दद्यात्: should give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अनुपस्कृतम्: unprepared/uncultivated; not improved
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुपस्कृत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• bhūmi (land)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that even a modest gift—such as a small plot of land—has ethical and spiritual value when given sincerely; the merit of charity is not dependent on ornamentation or show, but on the act and intention of giving.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially the duties and fruits of dāna. Here he emphasizes the worth of even small, simple donations, reinforcing practical generosity as part of righteous conduct.