Shloka 26

Adhyāya 42 (Śānti Parva): Śrāddha, Aurdhvadaihika Rites, and Royal Welfare Measures

Devanagari script

रत्नानि च विचित्राणि महाहाणि महायशा: । महायशस्वी राजा धुृतराष्ट्रने अपने पुत्रोंके श्राद्धमें समस्त कमनीय गुणोंसे युक्त अन्न, गो, धन और बहुमूल्य विचित्र रत्न प्रदान किये

Transliteration

ratnāni ca vicitrāṇi mahārhāṇi mahāyaśāḥ | mahāyaśasvī rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ svaputrāṇāṃ śrāddhe samasta-kamanīya-guṇaiḥ yuktaṃ annaṃ go-dhanaṃ ca bahumūlya-vicitra-ratnāni pradadau |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Vua Dhṛtarāṣṭra lừng danh, trong lễ śrāddha dành cho các con trai mình, đã bố thí những món ăn hội đủ mọi phẩm chất đáng ưa, cùng với bò, của cải và nhiều bảo vật quý hiếm, tinh xảo. Câu chuyện nhấn mạnh nỗ lực của nhà vua trong việc làm tròn bổn phận đối với người đã khuất bằng sự cúng thí rộng rãi, mong cầu công đức và sự đúng phép sau khi dòng dõi bị tàn phá.

Word by Word

• रत्नानि: gems, jewels
• रत्नानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• विचित्राणि: variegated, wonderful
• विचित्राणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• महाहाणि: great gifts/offerings (reading uncertain)
• महाहाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहाणि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• महायशाः: highly renowned
• महायशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महायशस्वी: very glorious
• महायशस्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृतराष्ट्रेण: by Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• धृतराष्ट्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• śrāddha (funerary rite)
• food (anna)
• cows (go)
• wealth (dhana)
• gems/jewels (ratna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights śrāddha and dāna as duties: honoring the departed through proper rites and generous giving. Ethical emphasis falls on fulfilling obligations with sincerity and abundance, using wealth to support dharmic acts and to seek merit for oneself and one’s ancestors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Dhṛtarāṣṭra performs śrāddha for his sons and distributes high-quality food, cows, wealth, and precious gems as ritual gifts, reflecting royal-scale charity and the post-war context of mourning and duty.