Shloka 14

Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामिति दानानां तिलदानं विशिष्यते । अक्षयं सर्वदानानां तिलदानमिहोच्यते

Transliteration

sarveṣām iti dānānāṃ tiladānaṃ viśiṣyate | akṣayaṃ sarvadānānāṃ tiladānam ihocyate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“在一切布施之中，以施芝麻最为殊胜。此处宣说其为‘不坏’——功德不减、福报不耗之施，较诸余施更具长久的灵性果报。”

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• दानानाम्: of gifts/charities
• दानानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• तिलदानम्: sesame-gift (gift of sesame)
• तिलदानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलदान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विशिष्यते: is distinguished/excels
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशिष्
• Form: Present, 3, Singular, Atmanepada, Active (middle endings)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable, inexhaustible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सर्वदानानाम्: of all gifts
• सर्वदानानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वदान
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• तिलदानम्: sesame-gift
• तिलदानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलदान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इह: here (in this world/teaching)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• उच्यते: is said/called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, 3, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• tila (sesame)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches that tiladāna (donating sesame) is uniquely meritorious among charities, described as akṣaya—yielding enduring, non-diminishing spiritual merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the relative excellence of various gifts, highlighting sesame-donation as especially efficacious.