Shloka 25

Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity

Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

वाजिनां च सहसेरे द्वे सुवर्णशशतभूषिते

Transliteration

vājināṁ ca sahasrāṇi dve suvarṇaśata-bhūṣite

Translation

Sinabi ni Bhagīratha: “At nagkaloob din ako ng dalawang libong kabayo—bawat isa’y pinalamutian ng sandaang pirasong ginto.” Ipinahihiwatig ng taludtod ang lawak at tapat na diwa ng handog ng isang hari, at ang aral na ang yaman at kapangyarihan ay dapat iukol sa matuwid na pagbibigay at sa paggalang sa mga karapat-dapat tumanggap.

Word by Word

• वाजिनाम्: of horses
• वाजिनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• सहस्रे: two thousands
• सहस्रे: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

• सुवर्णशतभूषिते: adorned with a hundred pieces of gold
• सुवर्णशतभूषिते: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्णशतभूषित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

भगीरथ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• horses
• gold ornaments

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dāna as a facet of dharma: prosperity and royal resources gain ethical meaning when used for generous, honorable gifting, reflecting sincerity, respect, and the pursuit of merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhagīratha is enumerating items of a grand donation—specifically, two thousand horses richly ornamented with gold—emphasizing the magnitude and splendor of the offering.