Shloka 20

Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage

Devanagari script

वज्ान्‌ महाधनांश्वैव वैदूर्याजिनराड्कवान्‌ । रत्नराशीन्‌ विनिक्षिप्य दक्षिणार्थे स भारत

Transliteration

vajrān mahādhanāṁś caiva vaidūryājinaraṅkavān | ratnarāśīn vinikṣipya dakṣiṇārthe sa bhārata ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Hỡi Bhārata, sau khi dành riêng những đống châu báu làm dakṣiṇā—lễ vật tặng cho bậc tế sư—gồm kim cương, của cải lớn, ngọc vaidūrya và cả những tấm da quý, ông sắp đặt các tài vật ấy để đem phân phát.”

Word by Word

• वज्रान्: diamonds/adamantine gems
• वज्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महाधनान्: great treasures/very valuable riches
• महाधनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वैदूर्य: cat's-eye gem (vaidūrya)
• वैदूर्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदूर्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अजिन: animal hide/skin
• अजिन: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजिन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राड्कवान्: having/including (rāḍkavat—uncertain reading)
• राड्कवान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राड्कवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रत्नराशीन्: heaps of jewels
• रत्नराशीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नराशि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विनिक्षिप्य: having placed/after depositing
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-क्षिप्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage)

• दक्षिणार्थे: for the purpose of a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भारत: O Bhārata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)
• vajra (diamonds)
• vaidūrya (cat’s-eye gem)
• ajina (animal hide)
• raṅku (deer/antelope hide)
• ratna-rāśi (heaps of jewels)
• dakṣiṇā (ritual/honorary gift)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wealth becomes dharmic when it is used with reverence and restraint—especially in honoring worthy recipients after hospitality or ritual. The verse frames dakṣiṇā not as display, but as a duty that completes righteous giving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates an episode where a powerful giver sets out heaps of precious items—diamonds, gems like vaidūrya, and valuable hides—explicitly for dakṣiṇā, i.e., gifts meant for honored Brāhmaṇas after being hosted.