Shloka 20
ऋच्विग्भि: सहितो धीमानेवमीजे स भूमिप: । ततस्तु ऋत्विजश्चलास्य धूमव्याकुललोचना:,इस प्रकार वे बुद्धिमान नरेश ऋत्विजोंके साथ यज्ञ किया करते थे। यज्ञ करते-करते उनके ऋत्विजोंकी आँखें धूएँसे व्याकुल हो उठीं
ṛc-vigbhiḥ sahito dhīmān evam īje sa bhūmipaḥ | tatas tu ṛtvijaś calāsya dhūma-vyākula-locanāḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Thus the wise king performed sacrifices in the company of the ṛtvij priests. But as the rites went on, the officiants—faces unsteady and eyes distressed—were troubled by the thick sacrificial smoke.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adherence to dharma through sustained Vedic sacrifice, while acknowledging that maintaining ritual order involves real human effort and discomfort for the priests who serve the rite.
A wise king continues performing yajñas with his officiating priests; as the ceremonies proceed, the priests’ eyes become irritated and distressed due to the sacrificial smoke.