Shloka 5
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 65 — Duḥśāsana’s Elephant Corps Engages Arjuna; Retreat to the Śakaṭa-vyūha
तानश्रमेथधे राजेन्द्रो ब्राह्मणेभ्योडददत् पिता । शतं शतं रथगजा एकैकं पृष्ठतो<न्वयु:
tān āśrame tathā rājendro brāhmaṇebhyo dadat pitā | śataṁ śataṁ rathagajā ekaikaṁ pṛṣṭhato 'nvayuḥ ||
Nārada said: Then the king—acting as a fatherly protector—made gifts to the brāhmaṇas in that hermitage. Hundreds upon hundreds of chariots and elephants followed behind, each in turn, as part of the royal donation.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadharma expressed through dāna: a ruler should use royal resources to uphold dharma by honoring and supporting brāhmaṇas and ascetics, treating such giving as a protective, fatherly duty rather than mere display.
Nārada describes a king at an āśrama distributing lavish gifts to brāhmaṇas; large numbers of chariots and elephants are part of the donation, depicted as following behind in orderly succession.