Mahabharata · 2.30.38–39
॥
Devanāgarī
तत्र चक्रुर् अनुज्ञाताः शरणान्य् उत शिल्पिनः ॥
रत्नवन्ति विशालानि वेश्मानीव दिवौकसाम् ॥
तत आज्ञापयाम् आस स राजा राजसत्तमः ॥
सहदेवं तदा सद्यो मन्त्रिणं कुरुसत्तमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tatra cakrur anujñātāḥ śaraṇāny uta śilpinaḥ ||
ratnavanti viśālāni veśmānīva divaukasām ||
tata ājñāpayām āsa sa rājā rājasattamaḥ ||
sahadevaṃ tadā sadyo mantriṇaṃ kurusattamaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तत्र चक्रुर् अनुज्ञाताःtatra cakrur anujñātāḥthere, by permission, they built
शरणान्य् उत शिल्पिनःśaraṇāny uta śilpinaḥdwellings (pavilions), the craftsmen,
रत्नवन्ति विशालानिratnavanti viśālāniadorned with jewels, spacious,
वेश्मानि इव दिव-ओकसाम्veśmāni iva diva-okasāmlike the abodes of the celestials;
तत आज्ञापयाम् आसtata ājñāpayām āsathen commanded
स राजा राज-सत्तमःsa rājā rāja-sattamaḥthat king, best of kings,
सहदेवं तदा सद्योsahadevaṃ tadā sadyoSahadeva at once,
मन्त्रिणं कुरु-सत्तमःmantriṇaṃ kuru-sattamaḥthe counselor, best of the Kurus:
वेश्मानीवveśmānīvaoriginal form "veśmānīva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
दिवौकसाम्divaukasāmoriginal form "divaukasām", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
राजसत्तमःrājasattamaḥoriginal form "rājasattamaḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कुरुसत्तमःkurusattamaḥoriginal form "kurusattamaḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
There, with permission, the craftsmen built spacious dwellings adorned with jewels, like the abodes of the celestials. Then that king, best of kings and best of the Kurus, at once commanded his counselor Sahadeva:
Version
81ca615008be · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:28:51 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
For the guests, halls are raised, "like the abodes of the celestials" — the best is given to those who have come for the sacrifice. It is telling that generosity extends even to shelter: one who receives the Lord and His servants is not sparing in anything. The verse teaches that true hospitality knows no calculated restraint where the worthy are concerned; in preparing a place for brahmins and kings, the righteous man builds no worse than for the gods. Where the heart is full of reverence, the hands are generous; and lodging prepared with love itself becomes part of the offering.