Shloka 56
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 58: Yudhiṣṭhira’s dawn rites, royal gifts, and the reception of Kṛṣṇa
विविधां पृथिवीं पुण्यां शिबि्राह्मणसात्करोत् । उनके वे यज्ञ प्रचुर फल देनेवाले थे और सदा निर्बाध-रूपसे चलते रहते थे। उन्होंने सहस्रकोटि स्वर्णमुद्राओंका दान किया था। राजा शिबिने हाथी, घोड़े, मृग, गौ, भेड़ और बकरी आदि पशुओं तथा धान्योंसहित नाना प्रकारके पवित्र भूखण्ड ब्राह्मणोंक अधीन कर दिये थे
nārada uvāca | vividhāṃ pṛthivīṃ puṇyāṃ śibir brāhmaṇasātkaro(t) |
Narada said: King Śibi, famed for righteousness, transferred many kinds of sacred and fertile tracts of land into the possession of Brahmins. His sacrifices were abundant in merit, yielding rich results, and they proceeded continually without obstruction. He bestowed gifts amounting to hundreds of millions of gold coins, and he granted to Brahmins holy estates together with elephants, horses, deer, cows, sheep, goats, and stores of grain—thus exemplifying the kingly duty of generosity and protection through lawful giving.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage upholds rājadharma through dāna: a righteous king sustains social and ritual order by honoring Brahmins, supporting yajñas, and giving wealth and resources lawfully and generously, thereby accruing puṇya and setting an ethical model of stewardship.
Nārada praises King Śibi by recounting his extraordinary gifts and patronage: he grants sacred lands and abundant resources to Brahmins, performs fruitful sacrifices without interruption, and donates vast sums of gold along with livestock and grain.