Shloka 25

Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications

Devanagari script

दातारो न ग्रहीतारो दयावन्तस्तथैव च । पितृदेवातिथेयाश्र नित्योद्युक्तास्तथैव च

Transliteration

dātāro na grahītāro dayāvantas tathaiva ca | pitṛdeva-atitheyāśrā nityodyuktās tathaiva ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“他们是施与者，而非索取者；慈悲自然而然安住于其心。其人恒常奉事诸天、祖灵与来客，并时时勤于行持正法之业。”

Word by Word

• दातारः: givers
• दातारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• ग्रहीतारः: takers/receivers
• ग्रहीतारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहीतृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दयावन्तः: compassionate
• दयावन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयावत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• पितृदेवातिथेयाश्राः: those devoted to (service of) fathers, gods, and guests
• पितृदेवातिथेयाश्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-देव-अतिथेय-आश्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नित्य: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• उद्युक्ताः: engaged/ready (for action)
• उद्युक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• pitṛ (ancestors)
• deva (gods)
• atithi (guest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises an ethical ideal: the truly virtuous are defined by giving rather than taking, by innate compassion, and by steady commitment to dharmic duties—especially honoring gods, ancestors, and guests.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he characterizes the conduct of exemplary people, describing their generosity, mercy, and constant readiness for righteous action and service.