Shloka 23
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
सहस्र॑ निष्ककण्ठानामददं दक्षिणामहम् । विजित्य भूपतीन् सर्वानर्थरिष्टवा पितामह
sahasra niṣkakaṇṭhānām adadaṁ dakṣiṇām aham | vijitya bhūpatīn sarvān arthariṣṭavā pitāmaha ||
Bhagīratha berkata: “Wahai Datuk (Pitāmaha)! Setelah menakluk semua raja, aku memberikan sebagai dakṣiṇā (honorarium korban suci) seribu niṣka beserta perhiasan leher—harta yang bukan disimpan untuk kesombongan, tetapi disalurkan kepada pemberian keagamaan yang wajar.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical use of power and wealth: even after victory and acquisition, a righteous king channels riches into dharmic giving (dakṣiṇā), treating wealth as a means to uphold ritual and social order rather than personal indulgence.
Bhagīratha addresses the ‘Grandfather’ and recounts a past act: after subduing other rulers, he distributed substantial wealth—described as a thousand niṣkas with ornaments—as dakṣiṇā, presenting himself as a model of royal generosity aligned with dharma.