Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 25

Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity

Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

वाजिनां च सहसेरे द्वे सुवर्णशशतभूषिते

Transliteration

vājināṁ ca sahasrāṇi dve suvarṇaśata-bhūṣite

Translation

婆伽罗多说道：“并且我还布施了两千匹马——每一匹都饰以百件金饰。”此句展现王者施与之宏阔与诚敬，彰显一项伦理理想：财富与权势当归于正法之施与，并用以敬奉堪受之人。

Word by Word

• वाजिनाम्: of horses
• वाजिनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• सहस्रे: two thousands
• सहस्रे: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

• सुवर्णशतभूषिते: adorned with a hundred pieces of gold
• सुवर्णशतभूषिते: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्णशतभूषित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

भगीरथ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• horses
• gold ornaments

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dāna as a facet of dharma: prosperity and royal resources gain ethical meaning when used for generous, honorable gifting, reflecting sincerity, respect, and the pursuit of merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhagīratha is enumerating items of a grand donation—specifically, two thousand horses richly ornamented with gold—emphasizing the magnitude and splendor of the offering.