Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 273

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

Devanagari script

प्रदाय सुरलोकस्थ: पुण्यान्तेडपि न चाल्यते । जो सर्दी, गर्मी और हवाके वेगको सहन करनेयोग्य सजी-सजायी गृह-भूमि दान करता है, वह देवलोकमें निवास करता है। पुण्यका भोग समाप्त होनेपर भी वहाँसे हटाया नहीं जाता

Transliteration

pradāya suralokasthaḥ puṇyānte’pi na cālyate |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：凡以布施之心施与一处备置周全的宅地——能御寒、耐热、抗风——便得居于天界。即使其福业受用已尽，也不被从彼处摈落。此教诲称扬深思而利生的施舍：能真正庇护、养济他人的赠与，必结成长久的灵性果报。

Word by Word

• प्रदाय: having given (after giving)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• सुरलोकस्थः: dwelling in heaven (in the world of the gods)
• सुरलोकस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरलोकस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुण्यान्ते: at the end of merit (when merit is exhausted)
• पुण्यान्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• चाल्यते: is moved/removed (is made to depart)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि (Passive), Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Suraloka (Devaloka, heaven)
• Gṛha-bhūmi (homestead/house-site) (implied by the contextual gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A gift that provides real protection and stability—such as a well-prepared dwelling place—produces exceptionally durable spiritual reward: the donor attains heaven and is not easily dislodged even after the ordinary ‘consumption’ of merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (especially the fruits of dāna), he states the heavenly result of donating a properly arranged homestead that can withstand harsh weather, emphasizing the superior merit of practical, compassionate giving.