Shloka 55
Śārṅgakānāṃ Avināśaḥ (Why the Śārṅga Birds Were Spared) | शार्ङ्गकानामविनाशः
राम: पाणिग्रहणिकं ददौ पार्थाय लाड्नली | प्रीयमाणो हलधर: सम्बन्धं प्रतिमानयन्,जिन्हें साहसका काम प्रिय है और जो हाथमें हल धारण करते हैं, उन बलरामने प्रसन्न होकर इस नूतन सम्बन्धका आदर करते हुए अर्जुनको पाणिग्रहणके दहेजके रूपमें एक हजार मतवाले हाथी भेंट किये, जो तीन अंगोंसे मदकी धारा बहानेवाले थे। वे हाथी युद्धमें कभी पीछे नहीं हटते थे और देखनेमें पर्वतशिखरके समान जान पड़ते थे। उनके मस्तकोंपर सुन्दर वेषरचना की गयी थी। उन सबके पार्श्वभागमें मजबूत घण्टे लटक रहे थे तथा गलेमें सोनेके हार शोभा दे रहे थे। वे सभी हाथी बड़े सुन्दर लगते थे और उन सबके साथ महावत थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | rāmaḥ pāṇigrahaṇikaṃ dadau pārthāya lāḍnalī | prīyamāṇo haladharaḥ sambandhaṃ pratīmānayan |
Vaiśampāyana said: Pleased at heart, Rāma (Balarāma), the wielder of the plough, honored this newly formed kinship and bestowed upon Pārtha (Arjuna) the pāṇigrahaṇika—marriage-gifts—namely a thousand rutting elephants, streaming ichor, steadfast in battle and mountain-like in appearance, adorned with fine trappings, bells at their flanks, and golden necklaces, each attended by its mahout.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic social ethics: a newly formed marital alliance is to be honored through generous, appropriate gifts. Such giving is not mere display but a public affirmation of kinship, respect, and responsibility between families.
After a new relationship is established through marriage, Balarāma, pleased, formally acknowledges the bond and presents Arjuna with substantial marriage-gifts—one thousand well-adorned war-elephants with attendants—signifying support, honor, and alliance.