Shloka 23
अर्जुनदुःखहेतुप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the cause of Arjuna’s recurring hardship
Book 14, Chapter 89
ऋच्विजस्तमपर्यन्तं सुवर्णनिचयं तथा,ब्राह्मणोंके लेनेके बाद जो धन वहाँ पड़ा रह गया, उसे क्षत्रिय, वैश्य, शूद्र तथा म्लेच्छ जातिके लोग उठा ले गये
ṛtvijaḥ tam aparyantaṃ suvarṇa-nicayaṃ tathā | brāhmaṇaiḥ gṛhīteṣu śeṣaṃ yat tatra avatiṣṭhata | kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāś ca mleccha-jātayaś ca tad ajahruḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Die Opferpriester (ṛtvij) erhielten einen unermesslichen Haufen Gold. Nachdem die Brāhmaṇas den ihnen zustehenden Anteil genommen hatten, wurde das dort noch verbleibende Vermögen von Menschen anderer Gruppen fortgetragen — Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, Śūdras und sogar von denen, die als mlecchas galten. Die Szene betont den Vorrang der rechtmäßigen rituellen Entlohnung (dakṣiṇā) und die soziale Wirklichkeit, dass der Überschuss, sobald der vorgeschriebene Anspruch erfüllt ist, der allgemeinen Aneignung anheimfällt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in a yajña the first ethical claim on wealth is the prescribed dakṣiṇā to the officiating priests; once that rightful due is met, any surplus is no longer bound by the same ritual obligation and may pass into broader social circulation.
During the Ashvamedha-related proceedings, an immense quantity of gold is present. The priests/Brāhmaṇas take their allotted share, and the remaining wealth lying there is then taken away by others—Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, Śūdras, and mleccha groups.