Shloka 29
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
अष्टौ सहस्राणि ककुझिनामहं शुक्लर्षभाणामददं द्विजेभ्य: । एकैकं वै काउचनं शंंगमे भ्य: पत्नीश्षैषामदरद निष्ककण्ठी:
aṣṭau sahasrāṇi kakudvinām ahaṃ śuklarṣabhāṇām adadaṃ dvijebhyaḥ | ekaikaṃ vai kāñcanaṃ śṛṅgamebhyaḥ patnīś ca teṣām adadaṃ niṣkakaṇṭhīḥ ||
अष्टौ सहस्राणि ककुद्वतां शुक्लवृषभाणामहं द्विजेभ्योऽददाम् । एकैकस्मिन् शृङ्गे सुवर्णं न्यस्तं, तथा निष्ककण्ठीर्गावोऽपि तेषां दत्ताः ॥
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a central expression of dharma: a ruler gains ethical merit by giving valuable, well-prepared gifts to worthy recipients (here, brāhmaṇas), emphasizing generosity, respect, and responsible wealth.
Bhagīratha recounts his acts of charity: he donated eight thousand white, humped bulls to brāhmaṇas, with gold fitted on each horn, and also gave cows adorned with golden neck-ornaments—illustrating the scale and intentionality of his gifts.