Shloka 23
राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations
न तत्र कृपण: वक्षिन्न दरिद्रो बभूव ह । क्षुधितो दुःखितो वापि प्राकृतो वापि मानव:
na tatra kṛpaṇaḥ kaścid daridro babhūva ha | kṣudhito duḥkhito vāpi prākṛto vāpi mānavaḥ ||
সেই যজ্ঞসভাত কোনো মানুহ দীন বা দৰিদ্ৰ হৈ নৰ’ল; কোনোজন ক্ষুধাৰ্ত নৰ’ল, কোনোজন দুঃখিতও নৰ’ল—এমনকি আটাইতকৈ সাধাৰণ আৰু নিম্ন অৱস্থাৰ মানুহজনো অভাৱত এৰি দিয়া নহ’ল।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A dharmic public rite is validated not merely by ritual correctness but by its ethical outcome: the removal of hunger, poverty, and distress through generosity and inclusive care, extending even to the most ordinary or lowly attendees.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the atmosphere at the sacrifice: due to abundant gifts and provisions, no one present remained destitute, hungry, or sorrowful—highlighting the king’s largesse and the social dimension of the yajña.