Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

पितृणां परमं भोज्यं तिला: सृष्टा: स्वयम्भुवा । तिलदानेन वै तस्मात्‌ पितृपक्ष: प्रमोदते

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | pitṝṇāṃ paramaṃ bhojyaṃ tilāḥ sṛṣṭāḥ svayambhuvā | tiladānena vai tasmāt pitṛpakṣaḥ pramodate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“芝麻乃自生者梵天所造，是供奉诸祖灵（Pitṛ）最上之食。因此，施芝麻能令祖先之期——祖灵半月（Pitṛpakṣa）——使彼等大得欢喜。”

Word by Word

• पितृणाम्: of the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितृणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• परमम्: supreme, best
• परमम्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• भोज्यम्: food; that which is to be eaten
• भोज्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तिलाः: sesame seeds
• तिलाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सृष्टाः: created
• सृष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)

• स्वयम्भुवा: by the Self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयम्भुवा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तिलदानेन: by the giving of sesame (sesame-donation)
• तिलदानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिलदान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• पितृपक्षः: the Pitṛs’ side/party; the ancestors (collectively)
• पितृपक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृपक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रमोदते: rejoices; is greatly pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रमुद्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• Tilāḥ (sesame seeds)
• Pitṛpakṣa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sesame is presented as the most fitting offering for the ancestors; donating it during ancestral rites is a dharmic act that brings satisfaction to the Pitṛs, emphasizing sincerity and prescribed simplicity in ritual charity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and gifts (dāna) within the Anuśāsana Parva, he explains the special ritual value of sesame in śrāddha-related observances, linking its cosmic origin (from Brahmā) to its efficacy for Pitṛs, especially in Pitṛpakṣa.