Shloka 18
अलम्बुस-वधः
The Neutralization of Alambusa
अलंकृतं चाश्वशतं वासांसीश श्र दक्षिणा:,इसके सिवा उन पाण्डुनन्दनने ब्राह्मणोंको सजे-सजाये सौ घोड़े, उत्तम वस्त्र, इच्छानुसार दक्षिणा और बछड़ोंसहित दूध देनेवाली बहुत-सी कपिला गौएँ दीं। उन गौओंके सींगोंमें सोने और खुरोंमें चाँदी मढ़े हुए थे। उन सबको देकर युधिष्ठिरने उन (गौओं एवं ब्राह्मणों)-की परिक्रमा की
sañjaya uvāca | alaṅkṛtaṃ cāśvaśataṃ vāsāṃsi ca śubhāṇi dakṣiṇāś ca yathāmanoramāḥ | tataḥ sa pāṇḍunandanaḥ payasvinīḥ kapilā bahvīḥ savatsāḥ suśobhanāḥ dadau | tāsāṃ śṛṅgeṣu suvarṇaṃ khureṣu rajataṃ ca niveśitam | tāḥ sarvāḥ pradāya yudhiṣṭhiraḥ tān gāś ca brāhmaṇāṃś ca pradakṣiṇam akarot ||
Sañjaya said: The son of Pāṇḍu (Yudhiṣṭhira) bestowed upon the brāhmaṇas a hundred well-adorned horses, fine garments, and gifts of wealth according to their wish. He also gave many tawny, milk-yielding cows with calves—beautifully arrayed, their horns plated with gold and their hooves set with silver. Having given all this, Yudhiṣṭhira reverently circumambulated both the cows and the brāhmaṇas, affirming that even amid war, dharma is upheld through generosity and honor to the worthy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a pillar of dharma: a righteous king sustains moral order by giving appropriately, honoring the learned, and showing reverence (pradakṣiṇā). Even in the harsh context of war, ethical conduct is maintained through generosity and respect.
Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira distributing lavish gifts—adorned horses, fine garments, desired dakṣiṇā, and many decorated milk-cows with calves—to brāhmaṇas, and then circumambulating the recipients and the cows as an act of honor and piety.