Shloka 3
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
पार्थिवै राजपुत्रैर्वा शक््या: प्राप्तुं पितामह । नार्थन्यूनैरवगुणैरेकात्मभिरसंहतै:
pārthivair rājaputrair vā śakyāḥ prāptuṃ pitāmaha | nārthanyūnair avaguṇair ekātmabhir asaṃhataiḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Ô Aïeul, seuls les rois ou les princes peuvent obtenir les fruits de ces sacrifices. Ceux qui manquent de richesses, dépourvus de vertus, solitaires et sans appui ne peuvent accomplir de tels sacrifices.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adhikāra (practical eligibility) for large-scale sacrifices: such rites typically require royal resources, personal virtue, and social support; those lacking wealth, qualities, and backing cannot realistically undertake them.
In the Anuśāsana Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and reflects on who can actually gain the fruits of certain yajñas, noting that only kings/princes can manage them, while the poor and unsupported cannot.