Shloka 4
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
घुष्यमाणे महादाने दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत । पतत्सु पुष्पवर्षेषु धर्मराजस्य मूर्थनि
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
ghuṣyamāṇe mahādāne dikṣu sarvāsu bhārata |
patatsu puṣpavarṣeṣu dharmarājasya mūrdhani ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: O Bhārata, as Dharmarāja’s great gift was being proclaimed in all directions, and showers of flowers were falling upon his head, the scene marked the public acclaim of generosity and righteousness—setting the stage for a moral test of what truly constitutes “great giving.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public acclaim and ritual signs (like a rain of flowers) may celebrate generosity, but the narrative context points toward a deeper ethical inquiry: the true greatness of dāna is measured by intention, sacrifice, and the relief of suffering—not merely by scale or reputation.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha-related festivities, his immense charity is being loudly praised in every direction, and flowers are said to rain upon his head as a mark of honor; this moment introduces the ensuing episode that challenges conventional ideas of “great giving.”