Shloka 26
Nṛga-upākhyāna: Brāhmaṇa-sva and the Consequence of Misappropriated Gift-Cattle (कृकलास-रूपे नृगोपाख्यानम्)
Devanagari script
प्रादेशमात्र भूमेस्तु यो दद्यादनुपस्कृतम्
Transliteration
prādeśamātra-bhūmes tu yo dadyād anupaskṛtam
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“即便只施与一小块量得的土地——朴素无饰——亦是有分量的布施。”
Word by Word
प्रादेशमात्रम्only a span-measure (i.e., very small amount)
प्रादेशमात्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रादेशमात्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
भूमेःof land/earth
भूमेः:
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
यःwho (he who)
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दद्यात्should give
दद्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootदा (दाने)
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
अनुपस्कृतम्unprepared/uncultivated; not improved
अनुपस्कृतम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुपस्कृत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaB
bhūmi (land)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that even a modest gift—such as a small plot of land—has ethical and spiritual value when given sincerely; the merit of charity is not dependent on ornamentation or show, but on the act and intention of giving.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma, especially the duties and fruits of dāna. Here he emphasizes the worth of even small, simple donations, reinforcing practical generosity as part of righteous conduct.