Shloka 21

Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)

Devanagari script

वीरुधश्रैव वक्षांश्व यज्ञार्थ वै तथौषधी: । पशुंश्चैव तथा मेध्यान्‌ यज्ञार्थानि हवींषि च

Transliteration

vīrudhaś caiva vṛkṣāṃś ca yajñārthaṃ vai tathauṣadhīḥ | paśūṃś caiva tathā medhyān yajñārthāni havīṃṣi ca |

Translation

那俱罗说道：为成就祭祀之故，他生出蔓草与林木，又生出诸般药草；并且造出适于仪礼清净之牲畜，以及为祭仪所用的供献（havis）。此段以创世本身为达摩所统摄：世间资粮并非仅供吞用，而当以祭（yajña）加以节制、净化地使用，从而维系宇宙与社会的和谐。

Word by Word

• वीरुधः: creepers, vines
• वीरुधः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरुध्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वृक्षान्: trees
• वृक्षान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• यज्ञार्थम्: for the sake of sacrifice
• यज्ञार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वै: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• औषधीः: medicinal herbs, plants
• औषधीः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• पशून्: animals
• पशून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• मेध्यान्: fit for sacrifice, pure (sacrificial)
• मेध्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• यज्ञार्थानि: intended for sacrifice
• यज्ञार्थानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञार्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• हवींषि: oblations
• हवींषि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• yajña
• vines/creepers (vīrudh)
• trees (vṛkṣa)
• herbs (auṣadhī)
• animals (paśu)
• oblations (havis)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that creation is structured to support dharma through yajña: plants, animals, and oblations are presented as provisions meant for sanctified, regulated use, emphasizing responsibility and ethical restraint rather than mere enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula is describing how the Creator arranged the world’s components—vegetation, medicinal herbs, suitable animals, and sacrificial offerings—so that sacrificial rites can be performed, implying that yajña is a sustaining principle for society and the cosmos.