Shloka 23
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
सहस्र॑ निष्ककण्ठानामददं दक्षिणामहम् । विजित्य भूपतीन् सर्वानर्थरिष्टवा पितामह
sahasra niṣkakaṇṭhānām adadaṁ dakṣiṇām aham | vijitya bhūpatīn sarvān arthariṣṭavā pitāmaha ||
Bhagīratha said: “O Grandfather, after conquering all the kings, I gave as a sacrificial honorarium a thousand niṣkas with neck-ornaments—wealth offered as dakṣiṇā, not hoarded for pride, but directed toward rightful religious giving.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical use of power and wealth: even after victory and acquisition, a righteous king channels riches into dharmic giving (dakṣiṇā), treating wealth as a means to uphold ritual and social order rather than personal indulgence.
Bhagīratha addresses the ‘Grandfather’ and recounts a past act: after subduing other rulers, he distributed substantial wealth—described as a thousand niṣkas with ornaments—as dakṣiṇā, presenting himself as a model of royal generosity aligned with dharma.