Shloka 23
Jarā’s Account and the Enthronement of Jarāsandha (जरासंधोत्पत्तिः अभिषेकश्च)
यदृच्छया55गतं त॑ तु वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितम् । पत्नीभ्यां सहितो राजा सर्वरत्नैरतोषयत्
yadṛcchayā gataṃ taṃ tu vṛkṣamūlam upāśritam | patnībhyāṃ sahito rājā sarvaratnair atoṣayat ||
Having arrived there by chance, the sage took shelter at the foot of a tree. The king, accompanied by his two queens, went to him and gratified him with every kind of precious gift.
कृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rāja-dharma expressed through atithi-satkāra: a ruler should honour and support ascetics and guests, offering appropriate gifts with reverence, thereby upholding social and spiritual order.
A sage arrives unexpectedly and sits at the foot of a tree. The king, accompanied by his two queens, approaches him and pleases him by presenting valuable offerings, signalling respect and seeking the merit and goodwill associated with serving a holy person.