Shloka 20
अश्वमेध-उपदेशः तथा मरुत्त-यज्ञ-धन-प्रसङ्गः
Counsel on Aśvamedha and the Marutta-treasure episode
कोशश्चापि विशीर्णो<5यं परिपूर्णो भविष्यति । विद्यते द्रविणं पार्थ गिरो हिमवति स्थितम्,'पार्थ! यद्यपि तुम्हारा खजाना इस समय खाली हो गया है तथापि वह बहुत शीघ्र भर जायगा। हिमालय पर्वतपर महात्मा मरुत्तके यज्ञमें ब्राह्मणोंने जो धन छोड़ दिया था, वह वहीं पड़ा हुआ है। कुन्तीकुमारं उसे ले आओ। वह तुम्हारे लिये पर्याप्त होगा”
kośaś cāpi viśīrṇo ’yaṃ paripūrṇo bhaviṣyati | vidyate draviṇaṃ pārtha giro himavati sthitam ||
Wahai Pārtha! Walau perbendaharaan kita kini telah terkuras, ia akan segera penuh kembali. Di pegunungan Himālaya tersimpan harta; pergilah dan bawalah—itu akan mencukupi keperluan kita.
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when resources appear exhausted, a righteous ruler should not fall into despair; prudent action and knowledge of lawful means can restore prosperity, especially when wealth is connected to prior sacrificial giving and meant to support dharmic aims.
Yudhiṣṭhira reassures Arjuna that the emptied royal treasury will soon be replenished and directs him to retrieve a store of wealth said to be lying in the Himālaya, to meet the needs of the ongoing royal-sacrificial context.