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.“
व्यास उवाच
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.