Shloka 2
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
ततो ददर्श नृपति: प्रासादं सर्वकाउ्चनम् । मणिस्तम्भसहस्राढ्यं गन्धर्वनगरोपमम्
tato dadarśa nṛpatiḥ prāsādaṃ sarva-kāñcanam | maṇi-stambha-sahasrāḍhyaṃ gandharva-nagaropamam ||
वहाँ पहुँचकर नृपति ने एक प्रासाद देखा, जो सर्वथा स्वर्णमय था। उसमें मणियों से जड़े हजारों स्तम्भ थे; वह अपनी शोभा से गन्धर्वनगर के समान प्रतीत होता था।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dazzling power of wealth and magnificence; in a dharmic context it implicitly reminds a ruler to maintain self-control and clear judgment when confronted with opulence, treating prosperity as a responsibility rather than an intoxication.
Bhishma narrates that the king arrives at a place and sees an extraordinary golden palace with thousands of gem-pillars, so splendid that it resembles the celestial city of the Gandharvas.