Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
न राजसूयैर्बहुभिरिष्टवा विपुलदक्षिणै:
na rājasūyaiḥ bahubhir iṣṭvā vipula-dakṣiṇaiḥ | tvayā ya idaṁ dāna-janitaṁ phalaṁ prāptaṁ tasya samatā pracura-dakṣiṇāvalaiḥ bahu-saṅkhyakaiḥ rājasūyaiḥ anekair aśvamedha-yajñaiś ca na bhavitum arhati | tvayā serabhara-sattūkā-dānenākṣayaṁ brahmalokaṁ jitaḥ ||
Le beau-père dit : « Le mérite que tu as acquis par cet acte de don ne peut être égalé, fût-ce en accomplissant de nombreux sacrifices Rājasūya assortis de larges dakṣiṇā, ni même par d’innombrables rites Aśvamedha. En offrant une simple mesure de farine d’orge grillée, tu as conquis le monde impérissable de Brahmā. »
श्षशुर उवाच
Sincere charity, even when materially small, can surpass the merit of grand rituals performed with great wealth; inner intention and compassion elevate the fruit of action beyond external scale.
A father-in-law praises the recipient/donor, declaring that the merit gained from donating a small portion of sattū is incomparable—even to many lavish Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices—and that this gift has secured attainment of imperishable Brahmaloka.