Shloka 5
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
भारत! उस समय राजा कुशिकने वहाँ शिल्पियोंके अभिप्रायके अनुसार निर्मित और भी बहुत-से दिव्य पदार्थ देखे। कहीं चाँदीके शिखरोंसे सुशोभित पर्वत, कहीं कमलोंसे भरे सरोवर, कहीं भाँति-भाँतिकी चित्रशालाएँ तथा तोरण शोभा पा रहे थे। भूमिपर कहीं सोनेसे मढ़ा हुआ पक्का फर्श और कहीं हरी-हरी घासकी बहार थी ।।
bhārata! tadā rājā kuśiko tatra śilpinām abhiprāyānusāreṇa nirmitaṃ bahuvidhaṃ divyaṃ dravyajātaṃ dadarśa—kvacit rajataśikharaiḥ śobhitāḥ parvatāḥ, kvacit kamalapūrṇāni sarāṃsi, kvacit citraśālāḥ toraṇāni ca virājante; bhūmau kvacit suvarṇamaṇḍitaṃ dṛḍhaṃ talaṃ, kvacit haritaharitā tṛṇarājiḥ. sahakārān praphullāṃś ca ketakoddālakān varān | aśokān sahakundāṃś ca phullāṃś caivātimuktakān ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Bhārata, nang panahong iyon ay nakita ni Haring Kuśika ang marami pang kahanga-hangang bagay na tila makalangit, na nilikha ayon sa layon at disenyo ng mga bihasang manggagawa. Sa isang dako’y may mga bundok na pinalamutian ng pilak na tuktok; sa iba’y mga lawaing hitik sa lotus; at sa iba pa’y mga bulwagang may mga larawan at maringal na tarangkahan. Sa lupa, may mga bahaging matitibay na sahig na binalutan ng ginto, samantalang ang iba’y kumikislap sa sariwang luntiang damo. Nakita rin niya ang mga punong hitik sa pamumulaklak—mangga, ketaka at uddālaka; aśoka kasama ang kundā; at ang namumulaklak na atimuktaka—kaya’t ang buong pook ay wari’y isang maingat na inayos na pangitain ng kasaganaan at kabutihang-palad.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores a dharmic ideal of kingship where prosperity and beauty are not mere luxury but signs of ordered governance and auspiciousness—human skill (śilpa) aligned with right intention produces a harmonious environment that supports ethical life.
Bhishma describes how King Kushika beholds a marvelously constructed setting: silver-peaked mountains, lotus lakes, painted halls, ornate gateways, gold-laid floors, green grass, and many blossoming trees—an immersive vision of cultivated, almost celestial splendour.