Shloka 29
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
अष्टौ सहस्राणि ककुझिनामहं शुक्लर्षभाणामददं द्विजेभ्य: । एकैकं वै काउचनं शंंगमे भ्य: पत्नीश्षैषामदरद निष्ककण्ठी:
aṣṭau sahasrāṇi kakudvinām ahaṃ śuklarṣabhāṇām adadaṃ dvijebhyaḥ | ekaikaṃ vai kāñcanaṃ śṛṅgamebhyaḥ patnīś ca teṣām adadaṃ niṣkakaṇṭhīḥ ||
Bhagīratha dit : « J’ai donné aux dvija (brāhmanes) huit mille taureaux blancs aux bosses saillantes. Sur chacun, j’ai fait sertir de l’or aux cornes ; et je leur ai aussi offert des vaches parées d’ornements d’or au cou. Ainsi ai-je accompli des dons dans l’esprit du dharma : honorant les dignes et affirmant l’idéal moral de la générosité. »
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a central expression of dharma: a ruler gains ethical merit by giving valuable, well-prepared gifts to worthy recipients (here, brāhmaṇas), emphasizing generosity, respect, and responsible wealth.
Bhagīratha recounts his acts of charity: he donated eight thousand white, humped bulls to brāhmaṇas, with gold fitted on each horn, and also gave cows adorned with golden neck-ornaments—illustrating the scale and intentionality of his gifts.