Shloka 14

Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)

Devanagari script

भाजनानि च लौहानि पात्रीश्न विविधा नृप । यद्‌ यदिच्छति यावच्च यच्चान्यदपि भाजनम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

bhājanāni ca lauhāni pātrīś ca vividhā nṛpa |

yad yad icchati yāvac ca yac cānyad api bhājanam ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：“大王啊，他分施铁制器皿与种种用具。凡苦行者所欲之器——无论数量多少——皆照其所求而给；其余所需之器用亦一并供给。”

Word by Word

• भाजनानि: vessels, utensils
• भाजनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• लौहानि: iron (made of iron)
• लौहानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौह
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• पात्रीः: bowls, vessels
• पात्रीः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्री
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

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

• विविधाः: various, diverse
• विविधाः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• नृप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छति: desires, wishes
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यावत्: as much as, to the extent that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

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

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• अन्यत्: other, another
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• भाजनम्: a vessel, utensil
• भाजनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाजन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• nṛpa (king)
• bhājana (vessels/utensils)
• lauha (iron utensils)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dāna as dharma: giving is not merely symbolic but responsive to real need—each recipient is given exactly what is desired and additionally what is necessary, reflecting thoughtful, non-performative generosity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Āśramavāsika setting, the king is arranging support for ascetics by distributing practical household and ritual utensils—especially iron vessels—so that their daily discipline and austerities can be sustained without hardship.