Shloka 1
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
अफ्--णक+ एकनवतितमो< ध्याय: हिंसामिश्रित यज्ञ और धर्मकी निन्दा जनमेजय उवाच यज्ञे सक्ता नृपतयस्तपःसक्ता महर्षय: । शान्तिव्यवस्थिता विप्रा: शमे दम इति प्रभो
Janamejaya uvāca | yajñe saktā nṛpatayas tapaḥ-saktā maharṣayaḥ | śānti-vyavasthitā viprāḥ śame dame iti prabho ||
Janamejaya berkata: “Wahai tuan, para raja menekuni yajña; para maharṣi menekuni tapa; dan para brāhmaṇa bersemayam dalam kedamaian—dalam śama dan dama, ketenangan batin serta pengendalian diri. Bila batin telah tenteram, pengekangan indria pun tercapai dengan sendirinya.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts three dharmic orientations—royal duty expressed through yajña, sagehood through tapas, and brāhmaṇical excellence through śānti supported by śama (mental restraint) and dama (sense-control)—implying that inner discipline is a defining ethical foundation.
Janamejaya addresses the narrator with a reflective observation about how different social-spiritual roles pursue their characteristic practices, setting up a discussion on the merits and limits of sacrifice, austerity, and self-restraint within dharma.