Shloka 21

Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

महान्‌ यशस्वी राजर्षि सहस्नचित्य ब्राह्मणके लिये अपने प्यारे प्राणोंकी बलि देकर श्रेष्ठ लोकोंमें गये हैं ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | sarvakāmaiḥ samāpūrṇaṃ dattvā veśma hiraṇmayam | maudgalyāya gataḥ svargaṃ śatadyumno mahīpatiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Vua Śatadyumna, sau khi bố thí cho Bà-la-môn Maudgalya một ngôi nhà bằng vàng, được trang bị đầy đủ mọi tiện nghi và điều mong ước, đã đạt đến cõi trời. Đoạn này nêu rõ sức mạnh đạo đức của sự bố thí trọn vẹn, vô tư—đặc biệt khi dâng cho người xứng đáng—như bổn phận của bậc quân vương, đưa đến những thế giới cao quý.

Word by Word

• सर्वकामैः: with all desired objects/fulfilments
• सर्वकामैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकाम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सम्पूर्णम्: complete, fully furnished
• सम्पूर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पूर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• वेश्म: a house, dwelling
• वेश्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• हिरण्मयम्: golden
• हिरण्मयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मौद्गल्याय: to (the sage) Maudgalya
• मौद्गल्याय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौद्गल्य
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• गतः: gone, having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Past participle (kta), Singular

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शतद्युम्नः: Śatadyumna (proper name)
• शतद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महीपतिः: king, lord of the earth
• महीपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King Shatadyumna
• Maudgalya (Brahmin)
• Svarga (heaven)
• Hiraṇmaya-veśma (golden house)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That wholehearted, complete giving (dāna)—especially by a ruler as part of rājadharma—creates great merit and leads to higher worlds; generosity is presented as a direct ethical path to spiritual reward.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma cites an exemplum: King Śatadyumna donates a fully furnished golden house to the Brahmin Maudgalya, and as a result of this meritorious act he attains heaven.