Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12

Strī-dharma: Śiva’s Inquiry, Umā’s Consultation, and Gaṅgā’s Instruction

Devanagari script

तिलपात्रे फलं प्राह भगवान्‌ पाकशासन: । गोप्रदानं च यः कुर्याद्‌ भूमिदानं च शाश्वतम्‌

Transliteration

tilapātre phalaṁ prāha bhagavān pākaśāsanaḥ | gopradānaṁ ca yaḥ kuryād bhūmidānaṁ ca śāśvatam |

Translation

Sinabi ni Lomaśa: “Ipinahayag ng Mapalad na Pākaśāsana (Indra) ang bunga ng pag-aalay ng sisidlang puno ng linga. Ang sinumang palagiang nagbibigay ng kaloob na baka at ng kaloob na lupain na pangmatagalan—kinikilala rin ng mga diyos na ang gayong kabutihan ay nasasaklaw din ng pag-aalay ng sisidlang linga.”

Word by Word

• {'tilapātra': 'a vessel/bowl containing sesame seeds

• a ritual gift (dāna) associated with merit', 'phala': 'fruit

• spiritual merit accrued from an act', 'prāha': 'said

• declared', 'bhagavān': 'the revered one

• an honorific for a deity', 'pākaśāsana': '‘chastiser of Pāka’

• epithet of Indra', 'gopradāna': 'gift of cows

• charitable donation of cattle', 'bhūmidāna': 'gift of land

• donation of land/property', 'yaḥ kuryāt': 'whoever would do

• who performs', 'śāśvatam': 'everlasting

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Lomaśa
• Indra (Pākaśāsana)
• tilapātra (sesame-vessel)
• go-dāna (gift of cows)
• bhūmi-dāna (gift of land)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that sincere charity (dāna), even in a modest form like gifting a sesame-filled vessel, can carry merit comparable to major gifts such as cows and land. It emphasizes accessibility of dharma: ethical giving is not limited to the wealthy, and intention plus prescribed generosity is honored by the gods.

What is happening in the narrative?

Lomaśa recounts a statement attributed to Indra (Pākaśāsana) about the spiritual ‘fruit’ of a particular donation. The passage functions as didactic instruction within Anuśāsana Parva’s broader discourse on gifts, vows, and righteous conduct.