Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 34

Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)

Devanagari script

जो श्रेष्ठ एवं सुपात्र ब्राह्मणको उपानह (जूता) दान करता है, उसके लिये कहीं कोई विषम स्थान नहीं है। न उसे दुःख उठाना पड़ता है और न काँटोंका ही सामना करना पड़ता है। छत्र-दान करनेसे परलोकमें जानेपर दाताको सुखदायिनी छाया सुलभ होती है ।।

Transliteration

yama uvāca | yo śreṣṭhaṃ evaṃ supātraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ upānah (jūtā) dānaṃ karoti, tasya kvāpi na kaścid viṣama-sthānaḥ | na tasya duḥkhaṃ bhavitum arhati, na ca kaṇṭakānāṃ samāgamo bhavati | chatra-dānāt paralokaṃ gatvā dātur upalabhyate sukhadāyinī chāyā | na hi dattasyā dānasya nāśo 'stīha kadācana | citragupta-mataṃ śrutvā hṛṣṭa-romā vibhāvasuḥ ||

Translation

Diêm Vương phán: “Ai đem một đôi dép cúng dường vị Bà-la-môn ưu tú, xứng đáng thọ nhận, người ấy sẽ chẳng gặp nơi gập ghềnh hiểm trở; không phải chịu nhọc nhằn, cũng không phải đối mặt với nỗi đau của gai nhọn. Lại nữa, ai bố thí chiếc lọng, khi đến cõi sau sẽ dễ dàng được bóng mát êm dịu, an lạc che chở. Quả thật, của bố thí đã cho thì không bao giờ mất. Nghe phán quyết của Citragupta, Vibhāvasu rùng mình hoan hỷ, lông tóc dựng lên.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'यम (Yama)', 'definition': 'Lord of justice and the dead

• moral judge in the afterlife'}, {'term': 'श्रेष्ठ (śreṣṭha)', 'definition': 'excellent, best, noble'}, {'term': 'सुपात्र (supātra)', 'definition': 'a worthy recipient (fit vessel for charity)'}, {'term': 'ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa)', 'definition': 'a Brahmin

• here, an exemplary recipient for dāna'}, {'term': 'उपानह् / उपानह (upānah)', 'definition': 'sandals, footwear'}, {'term': 'दान (dāna)', 'definition': 'gift, charitable giving'}, {'term': 'विषमस्थान (viṣama-sthāna)', 'definition': 'uneven/difficult place

• metaphor for hardship on one’s path'}, {'term': 'कण्टक (kaṇṭaka)', 'definition': 'thorn

• symbol of pain and obstacles'}, {'term': 'छत्र (chatra)', 'definition': 'umbrella, parasol

• emblem of protection and comfort'}, {'term': 'परलोक (paraloka)', 'definition': 'the next world, afterlife'}, {'term': 'छाया (chāyā)', 'definition': 'shade

• comfort/protection as karmic fruit'}, {'term': 'नाश (nāśa)', 'definition': 'loss, destruction

• here denied for true charity'}, {'term': 'चित्रगुप्त (citragupta)', 'definition': 'recorder of deeds

• associated with moral accounting'}, {'term': 'विभावसु (vibhāvasu)', 'definition': 'an epithet meaning ‘radiant one’

• commonly used for Agni'}, {'term': 'हृष्टरोमा (hṛṣṭa-romā)', 'definition': 'with bristling hair

Speaker

यम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• यम (Yama)
• ब्राह्मण (Brahmin recipient)
• उपानह् (sandals/footwear)
• छत्र (umbrella)
• परलोक (the next world)
• चित्रगुप्त (Chitragupta)
• विभावसु (Vibhavasu/Agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Practical, need-based gifts given to worthy recipients yield corresponding karmic benefits: donating footwear removes hardship on one’s path, donating an umbrella grants protective comfort; and genuine charity is never ‘lost’ but endures as merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yama explains the fruits of specific acts of dāna (sandals and umbrella). The verse then notes that upon hearing Chitragupta’s assessment, Vibhavasu (Agni) becomes thrilled—highlighting the authority of moral accounting and the certainty of karmic results.