Shloka 23
Śāṃtanu’s Ideal Rule; Devavrata’s Return; The Satyavatī Marriage Condition and Bhīṣma’s Vow (आदि पर्व, अध्याय ९४)
सर्वामिमां पृथिवीं निर्जिगाय प्रादामहं छादन ब्राह्मणेभ्य: । मेध्यानश्वानेकशतान् सुरूपां- स्तदा देवा: पुण्यभाजो भवन्ति,मैंने इस सारी पृथ्वीको जीत लिया था। मैं ब्राह्मणोंको अन्न-वस्त्र दिया करता था। मनुष्य जब एक सौ सुन्दर पवित्र अश्वोंका दान करते हैं, तब वे पुण्यात्मा देवता होते हैं
sarvām imāṁ pṛthivīṁ nirjigāya prādām ahaṁ chādana-brāhmaṇebhyaḥ | medhyān aśvān ekaśatān surūpāṁs tadā devāḥ puṇyabhājo bhavanti ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Tras conquistar toda esta tierra, solía dar alimento y vestiduras a los brāhmaṇas. Cuando alguien dona cien caballos hermosos y ritualmente puros, los dioses participan de ese mérito; por tal dádiva conforme al dharma, uno se hace digno de la bienaventuranza divina».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links righteous kingship with dāna: conquest or power is ethically completed by supporting brāhmaṇas and performing high-merit gifts (like donating ritually pure horses). Such giving is portrayed as generating puṇya that reaches even the devas.
Vaiśampāyana narrates a speaker’s past conduct: after conquering the earth, he regularly gave provisions and clothing to brāhmaṇas, and he highlights the exceptional merit of donating a hundred fine, sacrificially fit horses.