Shloka 22
Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
ईजेऽश्वमेधैरधियज्ञमीश्वरं महाविभूत्योपचिताङ्गदक्षिणै: । ततैर्वसिष्ठासितगौतमादिभि- र्धन्वन्यभिस्रोतमसौ सरस्वतीम् ॥ २२ ॥
īje ’śvamedhair adhiyajñam īśvaraṁ mahā-vibhūtyopacitāṅga-dakṣiṇaiḥ tatair vasiṣṭhāsita-gautamādibhir dhanvany abhisrotam asau sarasvatīm
In the arid regions where the river Sarasvatī flowed, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa performed great sacrifices such as the aśvamedha-yajña with vast opulence, proper paraphernalia, and fitting dakṣiṇā for the brāhmaṇas, thus pleasing Īśvara, the Lord of all yajñas. Sages like Vasiṣṭha, Asita, and Gautama supervised as ṛtvij priests.
When one performs ritualistic sacrifices as prescribed in the Vedas, one needs expert brāhmaṇas known as yājñika-brāhmaṇas. In Kali-yuga, however, there is a scarcity of such brāhmaṇas. Therefore in Kali-yuga the sacrifice recommended in śāstra is saṅkīrtana-yajña ( yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ ). Instead of spending money unnecessarily on performing yajñas impossible to perform in this Age of Kali because of the scarcity of yājñika-brāhmaṇas, one who is intelligent performs saṅkīrtana-yajña. Without properly performed yajñas to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be scarcity of rain ( yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ ). Therefore the performance of yajña is essential. Without yajña there will be a scarcity of rain, and because of this scarcity, no food grains will be produced, and there will be famines. It is the duty of the king, therefore, to perform different types of yajñas, such as the aśvamedha-yajña, to maintain the production of food grains. Annād bhavanti bhūtāni. Without food grains, both men and animals will starve. Therefore yajña is necessary for the state to perform because by yajña the people in general will be fed sumptuously. The brāhmaṇas and yājñika priests should be sufficiently paid for their expert service. This payment is called dakṣiṇā. Ambarīṣa Mahārāja, as the head of the state, performed all these yajñas through great personalities like Vasiṣṭha, Gautama and Asita. Personally, however, he was engaged in devotional service, as mentioned before ( sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ ). The king or head of state must see that things go on well under proper guidance, and he must be an ideal devotee, as exemplified by Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. It is the duty of the king to see that food grains are produced even in desert countries, what to speak of elsewhere.
FAQs
This verse presents Aśvamedha as a royal Vedic sacrifice meant to worship the Supreme Lord (adhiyajña īśvara), performed with proper paraphernalia and generous dakṣiṇā to qualified sages.
Adhiyajña refers to the Supreme Lord as the inner ruler and ultimate enjoyer of all sacrifice; the verse emphasizes that yajña is fundamentally an act of worship of the Lord, not merely ritual.
Offer your work and resources in a spirit of devotion, support genuine spiritual teachers and service (dakṣiṇā/charity), and keep the Lord as the center—turning duty into worship.