Mahabharata 3.78.30 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 78, Shloka 30
Akṣa-hṛdaya-dāna and Phalāśruti of the Nalopākhyāna (अक्षहृदयदानम् / नलोपाख्यान-फलश्रुतिः)
महत्या सेनया सार्ध विनीतै: परिचारकै: । भ्राजमान इवादित्यो वपुषा पुरुषर्षभ
mahātyā senayā sārdhaṁ vinītaiḥ paricārakaiḥ | bhrājamāna ivādityo vapuṣā puruṣarṣabha || narśreṣṭha yudhiṣṭhira! rājā nalenaivaṁ prakāraṁ satkāraṁ prāpya puṣkara ekaṁ māsam atra nyavasat, tataḥ svajanaiḥ saha prasannatāpūrvakaṁ svāṁ rājadhānīṁ jagāma | tasya saha viśālā senā vinayaśīlāś ca sevakā āsan | sa vapuṣā sūrya iva prakāśamāna āsīt ||
പുരുഷർഷഭാ! അവൻ മഹാസേനയോടും വിനീതരായ പരിചാരകരോടും കൂടെയായിരുന്നു; തന്റെ ദേഹകാന്തിയാൽ ആദിത്യനെപ്പോലെ പ്രകാശിച്ചു.
बृहदश्चव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights royal dharma expressed through satkāra—proper hospitality and honor even toward a rival—showing that dignity, restraint, and correct conduct uphold social order and a king’s reputation.
Bṛhadaśva tells Yudhiṣṭhira that Puṣkara, after being respectfully received by King Nala, remains for a month and then departs happily to his capital with a large army and disciplined attendants, shining with conspicuous splendor.
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