Shloka 12
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
ततः स राजा प्रददौ तापसार्थमुपाहतान् | कलशान् काज्चनान् राजंस्तथैवौदुम्बरानपि,राजन! उस समय राजा युधिष्छिरने तपस्वियोंके लिये लाये हुए सोने और ताँबेके कलश, मृगचर्म, कम्बल, खुक्, खुवा, कमण्डलु, बटलोई, कड़ाही, अन्यान्य लोहेके बने हुए पात्र तथा और भी भाँति-भाँतिके बर्तन बाँटे। जो जितना और जो-जो बर्तन चाहता था, उसको उतना ही और वही बर्तन दिया जाता था। दूसरा भी आवश्यक पात्र दे दिया जाता था
tataḥ sa rājā pradadau tāpasārtham upāhatān | kalaśān kāñcanān rājaṁs tathaivaudumbarān api ||
Then the king distributed, for the benefit of the ascetics, the vessels that had been brought—golden pitchers, and likewise copper (udumbara) ones. In the Āśramavāsika Parva, this gift proclaims the king’s dharmic duty: royal wealth is turned into support for austerity and the common good, not private indulgence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a practical expression of dharma: a ruler should convert prosperity into support for spiritual and communal welfare, honoring ascetics and sustaining disciplined life rather than hoarding wealth.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the king distributes vessels that had been brought for ascetics—specifically golden and copper pitchers—indicating an organized act of giving in the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika episode.