Shloka 12
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
ततः स राजा प्रददौ तापसार्थमुपाहतान् | कलशान् काज्चनान् राजंस्तथैवौदुम्बरानपि
tataḥ sa rājā pradadau tāpasārtham upāhatān | kalaśān kāñcanān rājaṁs tathaivaudumbarān api ||
Alors le roi distribua, pour le bien des ascètes, les récipients qu’on avait apportés : des aiguières d’or, et de même des aiguières de cuivre (udumbara). Dans le cadre de l’Āśramavāsika Parva, ce geste souligne la responsabilité dharmique du souverain envers ceux qui vivent l’austérité : transformer la richesse royale en soutien de la vie spirituelle et du bien commun, plutôt qu’en jouissance personnelle.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a practical expression of dharma: a ruler should convert prosperity into support for spiritual and communal welfare, honoring ascetics and sustaining disciplined life rather than hoarding wealth.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the king distributes vessels that had been brought for ascetics—specifically golden and copper pitchers—indicating an organized act of giving in the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika episode.