Shloka 2
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
ततो ददर्श नृपति: प्रासादं सर्वकाउ्चनम् । मणिस्तम्भसहस्राढ्यं गन्धर्वनगरोपमम्
tato dadarśa nṛpatiḥ prāsādaṃ sarva-kāñcanam | maṇi-stambha-sahasrāḍhyaṃ gandharva-nagaropamam ||
Da erblickte der König einen prächtigen Palast, ganz und gar aus Gold gefertigt. Mit Tausenden von juwelenbesetzten Säulen geschmückt, erschien er in seinem Glanz wie die himmlische Stadt der Gandharvas.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dazzling power of wealth and magnificence; in a dharmic context it implicitly reminds a ruler to maintain self-control and clear judgment when confronted with opulence, treating prosperity as a responsibility rather than an intoxication.
Bhishma narrates that the king arrives at a place and sees an extraordinary golden palace with thousands of gem-pillars, so splendid that it resembles the celestial city of the Gandharvas.