Shloka 7
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
सक्तुप्रस्थेन वो नायं यज्ञस्तुल्यो नराधिपा: । उज्छवृत्तेर्वदान्यस्य कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिन:,“राजाओ! तुम्हारा यह यज्ञ कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासी एक उज्छवृत्तिधारी उदार ब्राह्मणके सेरभर सत्तू दान करनेके बराबर भी नहीं हुआ है”
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca:
Saktuprasthena vo nāyaṃ yajñas tulyo narādhipāḥ |
Ucchavṛtter vadānyasya Kurukṣetranivāsinaḥ ||
Sang luwak berkata: Wahai para raja, kurban kalian ini tidak sebanding bahkan dengan sedekah satu prastha saktu (tepung gandum sangrai) yang diberikan oleh seorang Brahmana dermawan, penghuni Kurukṣetra, yang hidup dari mengais sisa panen.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that spiritual worth is determined by intention, sacrifice, and purity of giving—not by the scale or splendor of a ritual. A small gift offered by a truly self-denying and generous person can surpass a grand royal sacrifice in merit.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses kings and contrasts their elaborate yajña with the exemplary charity of a Kurukṣetra Brahmin who lived by gleaning. The comparison reframes the evaluation of the sacrifice, highlighting a moral standard rooted in humility and genuine generosity.