Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 19
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
ईषादन्तान् महाकायान् काञ्चनस्रग्विभूषितान् । पद्मिनो वै सहस््राणि प्रादां दश च सप्त च
īṣādantān mahākāyān kāñcanasragvibhūṣitān | padmino vai sahasrāṇi prādāṁ daśa ca sapta ca ||
Wika ni Bhagīratha: “Nagkaloob ako ng libu-libong elepanteng may tatak ng lotus—malalaki ang katawan, ang mga pangil ay tila mga pingga ng araro, at pinalamutian ng mga kuwintas na ginto—sa kabuuan ay labimpitong libo.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna as a central royal and ethical duty: a ruler’s prosperity gains meaning when converted into righteous giving, especially of valuable, auspicious gifts, thereby supporting dharma and accruing merit.
Bhagīratha is recounting his acts of generosity, specifying that he donated a vast number of richly adorned, auspicious elephants—seventeen thousand—illustrating the scale and intent of his charitable conduct.