Shloka 19
सोमक–जन्तु उपाख्यानम्
Somaka–Jantu Exemplar: The Quest for a Hundred Sons
ऋत्विगुवाच यजस्व जन्तुना राजंस्त्वं मया वितते क्रतौ । ततः पुत्रशतं श्रीमद् भविष्यत्यचिरेण ते,पुरोहितने कहा--राजन्! मैं एक यज्ञ आरम्भ करवाऊँगा, उसमें तुम अपने पुत्र जन्तुकी आहुति देकर यजन करो। इससे शीघ्र ही तुम्हें सौ परम सुन्दर पुत्र प्राप्त होंगे
ṛtvig uvāca—yajasva jantunā rājan tvaṁ mayā vitate kratau | tataḥ putraśataṁ śrīmad bhaviṣyaty acireṇa te ||
El sacerdote oficiante dijo: «Oh rey, celebra el sacrificio en el rito que he puesto en marcha, ofreciendo a Jantu como oblación. Entonces, en poco tiempo, te nacerán cien hijos espléndidos.»
सोमक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual authority and desire for lineage can pressure a ruler toward adharma: a promised reward (many sons) is used to justify an ethically troubling act (offering a person as oblation), inviting reflection on whether ends can sanctify means.
A priest instructs a king to complete a sacrifice the priest has arranged, specifying that Jantu is to be offered; the priest assures the king that this will quickly result in the birth of a hundred splendid sons.