Shloka 4
अपां कुम्भै: सुपूर्णश्न विन्यस्तै: सर्वतोदिशम् । घृतेन तिन्दुकालातै: सर्षपैश्न महाभुज,महाबाहो! उसके चारों ओर जलसे भरे हुए कलश रखे गये थे। घीसे तर किये हुए तेन्दुक नामक काष्ठके कई टुकड़े जल रहे थे तथा यत्र-तत्र सरसों बिखेरी गयी थी
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | apāṃ kumbhaiḥ supūrṇaiḥ vinystaiḥ sarvato diśam | ghṛtena tindukakāṣṭhaiḥ sarsapaiś ca mahābhuja ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “All around, water-pots filled to the brim were set in place. Pieces of tinduka wood, soaked with ghee, were burning, and mustard seeds were scattered here and there.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as disciplined ritual order: purity (water), sanctification (ghee-fed fire), and protective auspicious measures (scattered mustard). Ethical action in the epic often appears as careful adherence to prescribed, community-stabilizing rites rather than impulsive conduct.
A ceremonial space is being prepared: full water-jars are arranged in all directions, ghee-soaked tinduka wood is burning as fuel, and mustard seeds are scattered around—typical markers of a formal rite or yajña-related observance.