Shloka 114

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

तथा गोमायुगृध्रा भ्यां प्राददत्‌ क्षुदुविनाशनम्‌

Transliteration

tathā gomāyugṛdhrābhyāṃ prādadat kṣuduvināśanam

Translation

Cũng vậy, ngài ban cho con chó rừng và con kền kền một phương kế diệt cơn đói.

Word by Word

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

• गोमायुगृध्राभ्याम्: by the jackal and the vulture
• गोमायुगृध्राभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमायु + गृध्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• प्राददत्: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

• क्षुदुविनाशनम्: hunger-destroying (food/remedy)
• क्षुदुविनाशनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद् + विनाशन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• gomāyu (jackal)
• gṛdhra (vulture)
• kṣudh (hunger)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is expressed through practical compassion: removing hunger and distress is a direct moral duty, and benevolence should not be restricted only to the ‘worthy’ or socially esteemed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes an instance where a benefactor gives the jackal and the vulture something that eliminates hunger—an illustrative example used to support a broader ethical point about giving and alleviating suffering.