Shloka 6

असुराश्च सुराश्चैव पुण्यहेतोर्मखक्रियाम्‌ । प्रयतन्ते महात्मानस्तस्माद्‌ यज्ञा: परायणम्‌,महामना देवता और दैत्य पुण्यके लिये यज्ञ करनेका ही प्रयत्न करते हैं, अत: यज्ञ परम आश्रय है

asurāś ca surāś caiva puṇya-hetor makha-kriyām | prayatante mahātmānas tasmād yajñāḥ parāyaṇam ||

Vyāsa sprach: „Sowohl Asuras als auch Devas streben, um Verdienst zu erlangen, danach, Opferhandlungen zu vollziehen. Darum wird das Opfer (yajña) als höchster Zufluchtsort und letzte Zuflucht verkündet.“

असुराःasuras (demons)
असुराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सुराःgods (devas)
सुराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
पुण्यहेतोःfor the sake of merit (as the cause of merit)
पुण्यहेतोः:
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्यहेतु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
मखक्रियाम्the sacrificial act/rite
मखक्रियाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमखक्रिया
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
प्रयतन्तेthey strive/endeavor
प्रयतन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootयत् (प्र + यत्)
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Atmanepada
महात्मानःgreat-souled ones
महात्मानः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तस्मात्therefore/from that reason
तस्मात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतस्मात् (तद्)
यज्ञाःsacrifices
यज्ञाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
परायणम्supreme refuge/ultimate resort
परायणम्:
TypeNoun
Rootपरायण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
A
Asuras
S
Suras (Devas)
Y
Yajña (sacrifice)
M
Makha (sacrificial rite)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that yajña (sacrificial/ritual action) is a paramount spiritual recourse because even opposing cosmic factions—Devas and Asuras—pursue it to gain puṇya (merit). It highlights the ethical idea that disciplined sacred action is a recognized means to auspicious results and the maintenance of order.

Vyāsa is making a doctrinal observation within the Ashvamedhika context: he underscores the universal drive toward ritual merit by noting that both gods and their adversaries exert themselves in sacrificial performances, concluding that yajña stands as the highest reliance.