Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 31
Go-dāna-stuti and Ghṛta-Japa
Praise of cow-gift and ghee-centered recitation
नरपतिरभवत् सदैवताभ्य: प्रयतमनास्त्वभिसंस्तुवंश्ष ता: सम । न च धुरि नृप गामयुक्त भूय- स्तुरगवरैरगमच्च यत्र तत्र
narapatir abhavat sadaivatābhyaḥ prayatamanās tv abhisamstuvanṣ tāḥ samaḥ | na ca dhuri nṛpa gāmayukta-bhūyas turagavarair agamac ca yatra tatra ||
वैशम्पायनजी बोले—वह नृपति सदा देवताओं के प्रति भक्त, संयत-मन और समभाव से युक्त होकर उचित स्तुति करता रहता था। और हे राजन्! वह फिर कभी बैलों के जुएँ में बँधकर नहीं रहा; उत्तम घोड़ों से युक्त होकर जहाँ-तहाँ स्वच्छन्द विचरता था।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s excellence is shown by disciplined mind (prayata-manāḥ), devotion to the divine (daivatābhyaḥ), and equanimity (samaḥ). Praise and worship should be performed with steadiness and humility, not driven by ego or restlessness.
Vaiśampāyana describes a king who becomes consistently devout and self-controlled, offering proper praise to the gods. The verse also paints a vivid image of his movement—no longer constrained like a slow, yoked conveyance, he travels about with fine horses, suggesting renewed vigor and purposeful conduct.