Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 47

Pānīya-dāna and Anna-dāna: The Primacy of Life-Sustaining Gifts (पानीयदान-प्रशंसा / अन्नदान-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

तरुणादित्यवर्णानि स्थावराणि चराणि च । अनेकशतभौमानि सान्तर्जलचराणि च

Transliteration

taruṇādityavarṇāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca | anekaśatabhaumāni sāntarjalacarāṇi ca ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “May mga tahanang nagniningning na gaya ng batang araw sa umaga, na may mapulang kislap. Ang ilan ay nakapirmi at di gumagalaw, samantalang ang iba’y gumagala na parang mga palasyong panghimpapawid. Marami ang may daan-daang silid at palapag; at sa loob ay may mga imbakan ng tubig na may mga nilalang na nabubuhay sa tubig.”

Word by Word

• तरुण: young, fresh
• तरुण: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• आदित्य: of the sun
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वर्णानि: colors, hues
• वर्णानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• स्थावराणि: immovable, stationary
• स्थावराणि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• चराणि: moving, mobile
• चराणि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

• अनेक: many
• अनेक: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• शत: hundreds
• शत: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• भौमानि: earthly, on the ground
• भौमानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भौम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• स: with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स

• अन्तः: inside, within
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः

• जल: in water / water
• जल: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• चराणि: moving beings
• चराणि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• āditya (Sun)
• bhavana (dwellings/palaces)
• vimāna (aerial mansion/vehicle)
• jalāśaya (reservoir/pond)
• jalacara (aquatic creatures)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse evokes the splendor and abundance associated with higher realms attained through merit: radiant residences, mobile vimānas, and self-contained waterscapes. In the Anuśāsana context, such imagery supports Bhīṣma’s broader instruction that righteous conduct and generosity yield refined, orderly enjoyments rather than chaotic or harmful pleasures.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing extraordinary dwellings—some stationary, some moving like vimānas—characterized by sunlike radiance, many levels, and interior reservoirs inhabited by aquatic life. The passage functions as a vivid catalog of the features of exalted abodes while he continues his didactic discourse.