Shloka 12
अश्वमेध-उपदेशः तथा मरुत्त-यज्ञ-धन-प्रसङ्गः
Counsel on Aśvamedha and the Marutta-treasure episode
इमं ज्ञातिवर्ध॑ कृत्वा सुमहान्तं द्विजोत्तम । दानमल्पं न शक्नोमि दातुं वित्तं च नास्ति मे
imaṃ jñātivardhaṃ kṛtvā sumahāntaṃ dvijottama | dānam alpaṃ na śaknomi dātuṃ vittaṃ ca nāsti me ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «يا أفضلَ البراهمة، بعدما تسبّبتُ في هذا الدمار العظيم بين ذوي قرابتي، لم تعد لي قدرةٌ على أن أهب حتى عطيةً يسيرة؛ إذ لا مالَ عندي.»
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological aftermath of violence: even righteous duties like dāna can feel impossible when one is burdened by guilt and deprived of resources. It frames charity not merely as a ritual act but as something requiring inner strength and material means, both shaken by the consequences of war.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Brahmin, lamenting that after the immense destruction of his own relatives, he is unable to offer even a small gift because he lacks wealth. The statement reflects his grief and moral exhaustion in the post-war setting of the Aśvamedhika Parva.