Shloka 5
तानश्रमेथधे राजेन्द्रो ब्राह्मणेभ्योडददत् पिता । शतं शतं रथगजा एकैकं पृष्ठतो<न्वयु:
tān āśrame tathā rājendro brāhmaṇebhyo dadat pitā | śataṁ śataṁ rathagajā ekaikaṁ pṛṣṭhato 'nvayuḥ ||
Nārada said: Then the king—acting as a fatherly protector—made gifts to the brāhmaṇas in that hermitage. Hundreds upon hundreds of chariots and elephants followed behind, each in turn, as part of the royal donation. The scene underscores the ethic of kingship: wealth and power are to be redirected toward dharma through generous support of the learned and the ascetic community.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājadharma expressed through dāna: a ruler should use royal resources to uphold dharma by honoring and supporting brāhmaṇas and ascetics, treating such giving as a protective, fatherly duty rather than mere display.
Nārada describes a king at an āśrama distributing lavish gifts to brāhmaṇas; large numbers of chariots and elephants are part of the donation, depicted as following behind in orderly succession.