Shloka 36

Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya

Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa

Devanagari script

षष्टिहद उपस्पृश्य चान्नदानाद्‌ विशिष्यते । दशतीर्थसहस्त्राणि तिसत्र: कोट्यस्तथा परा:

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭihada upaspṛśya cānna-dānād viśiṣyate | daśa-tīrtha-sahasrāṇi tisraḥ koṭyas tathā parāḥ ||

Translation

شَشْٹِہَد میں پانی کو چھو کر تطہیر کی رسم ادا کرنے کے بعد جو اَنّ دان کرتا ہے، وہ خاص طور پر عظیم ثواب کا مستحق ہوتا ہے۔ کہا گیا ہے کہ اس کا پھل دس ہزار تیرتھوں کے اسنان کے برابر ہے، بلکہ اس سے بھی تین کروڑ زیادہ—یوں اَنّ دان کو سب سے برتر دھارمک خیرات قرار دیا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• षष्टिहदः: the (rite/person called) Ṣaṣṭihad
• षष्टिहदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टिहद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपस्पृश्य: having sipped/touched (water) for purification
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपस्पृश्
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), having touched (water), having performed ācamana

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

• अन्नदानात्: from food-giving; than the gift of food
• अन्नदानात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नदान
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शिष्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• दशतीर्थसहस्राणि: thousands of (sets of) ten tīrthas
• दशतीर्थसहस्राणि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशतीर्थसहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• त्रिंशत्: thirty
• त्रिंशत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिंशत्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कोट्यः: crores (tens of millions)
• कोट्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• पराः: further/greater; beyond
• पराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

अजड्रिय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• anna-dāna (gift of food)
• tīrtha (sacred places of pilgrimage)
• upaspṛśya (ritual water-touching/purification)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates annadāna (giving food) as an exceptionally powerful form of charity, portrayed as surpassing or equaling vast quantities of tīrtha-related merit; it frames nourishment of others as a high dharmic act.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ajadriya is praising specific dharmic practices by ranking their spiritual efficacy: after noting ritual purification (touching water), he declares that giving food is especially meritorious, comparing its fruit to immense pilgrimage merit.