Shloka 23
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
अम्बरीषो गवां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मुणे भ्य: प्रतापवान् | अर्बुदानि दशैकं च सराष्ट्रो3भ्यपतद् दिवम्,प्रतापी राजा अम्बरीषने ब्राह्मणोंको ग्यारह अर्बुद (एक अरब दस करोड़) गौएँ दानमें देकर देशवासियोंसहित स्वर्गलोक प्राप्त किया
Ambarīṣo gavāṁ dattvā brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pratāpavān | arbudāni daśaikaṁ ca sa-rāṣṭro 'bhyapatad divam ||
വ്യാസൻ പറഞ്ഞു—മഹാപ്രതാപിയായ രാജാവ് അംബരീഷൻ ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു ഗോകൾ ദാനം ചെയ്തു—പത്ത് അർബുദവും കൂടെ മറ്റൊരു അർബുദവും, ആകെ പതിനൊന്ന് അർബുദം—തന്റെ രാജ്യത്തോടുകൂടി സ്വർഗ്ഗലോകം പ്രാപിച്ചു।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that righteous generosity (dāna), especially by a ruler to worthy recipients like brāhmaṇas, generates great merit (puṇya) and leads to auspicious results—symbolized here by attaining heaven—benefiting not only the giver but also the wider realm under his care.
Vyāsa cites King Ambarīṣa as an exemplar: after donating an immense number of cows—eleven arbuda—to brāhmaṇas, he is said to have ascended to heaven along with his kingdom, underscoring the exemplary status of royal charity in dharma discourse.