Shloka 21
दिव्यमष्टशलाकं तु सौवर्ण परमर्द्धिमत् । छत्र॑ देवावृधो दत्त्वा सराष्ट्रो5भ्यपतद् दिवम्,राजा देवावृधने आठ शलाकाओं (ताड़ियों) से युक्त सोनेका बना हुआ बहुमूल्य छत्र दान करके अपने देशकी प्रजाके साथ स्वर्गलोक प्राप्त किया
divyam aṣṭaśalākaṃ tu sauvarṇaṃ paramarddhimat | chatraṃ devāvṛdho dattvā sarāṣṭro 'bhyapatad divam ||
Vyāsa said: King Devāvṛdha, having gifted a splendid, eight-ribbed parasol made of gold and of the highest value, attained heaven together with his kingdom (that is, with his realm and people). This verse underscores the power of dāna: a royal gift offered in righteousness becomes a cause of exalted posthumous destiny, extending benefit beyond the giver to those under his protection.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous giving (dāna), especially of valuable and symbolically significant gifts, generates great merit (puṇya) leading to heavenly attainment; the king’s dharmic conduct is portrayed as benefiting not only himself but also his realm/people.
Vyāsa narrates an exemplum: King Devāvṛdha donates a magnificent golden parasol with eight ribs, and as a result he ascends to heaven ‘with his kingdom,’ indicating the expansive, protective scope of a king’s merit when he practices dharma through generosity.