Shloka 11
Droṇānīka-praveśa: Arjuna’s respectful appeal to Droṇa and renewed advance toward Jayadratha (द्रोणानीकप्रवेशः)
सौवर्णा पृथिवीं कृत्वा य इमां मणिशर्कराम् | विप्रेभ्य: प्राददद् राजा सो<श्चवमेथे महामखे
sauvarṇāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtvā ya imāṃ maṇiśarkarām | viprebhyaḥ prādadad rājā so ’śvamedhe mahāmakhe ||
नारद उवाच—यः स राजा सौवर्णामिव पृथिवीं कृत्वा मणिशर्करामिव चेमां कृत्वा, विप्रेभ्यः प्राददात्—स एवाश्वमेथे महामखे महादानं दत्तवान्। तस्य राज्ञो दानं यज्ञसमये ब्राह्मणपूजनार्थं धर्म्यं बभूव।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises dāna performed in a sacred context: a ruler’s immense wealth becomes dharmically meaningful when offered to worthy recipients (vipras) during a major yajña, emphasizing generosity, ritual responsibility, and support of sacred learning.
Nārada describes an exemplary king whose riches are so vast that the earth seems ‘golden’ and strewn with ‘jewel-pebbles’; during a grand Aśvamedha rite, the king distributes this wealth to brāhmaṇas, illustrating royal munificence as a celebrated ideal.