Shloka 38

अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्

Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच एवमुकक्‍्त्वा तु राजानमिन्द्रोतो जनमेजयम्‌ । याजयामास विधिवत्‌ वाजिमेधेन शौनक:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं-राजन्‌! ऐसा कहकर शौनक इन्द्रोतने राजा जनमेजयसे विधिपूर्वक अश्वमेधयज्ञका अनुष्ठान कराया

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca evam uktvā tu rājānam indroto janamejayam | yājayāmāsa vidhivat vājimedhena śaunakaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Having spoken thus to King Janamejaya, Indrota’s son Shaunaka then had the king duly perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice in accordance with prescribed rite.

Word by Word

भीष्मःBhishma

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

उक्त्वाhaving said

तुbut/indeed

राजानम्the king

इन्द्रद्योतनःIndradyotana (proper name)

जनमेजयम्Janamejaya

याजयामासcaused to perform (sacrificed as priest)/made (him) perform a sacrifice

विधिवत्according to rule, duly

वाजिमेधेनby the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

शौनकःShaunaka

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Janamejaya

Shaunaka

Indrota

Ashvamedha (Vajimedha) sacrifice

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharma in governance: even great royal acts like the Aśvamedha should be undertaken only ‘vidhivat’—under proper guidance and prescribed procedure—showing restraint, legitimacy, and alignment with sacred law rather than personal whim.

What is happening in the narrative?

After advising King Janamejaya, the sage Shaunaka (identified as Indrota’s son) officiates and has the king perform an Aśvamedha sacrifice according to correct ritual rules.