Shloka 22
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
तच्छुत्वा तु वसुस्तेषामविचार्य बलाबलम् | यथोपनीतैर्यष्टव्यमिति प्रोवाच पार्थिव:
tac chrutvā tu vasus teṣām avicārya balābalam | yathopānītair yaṣṭavyam iti provāca pārthivaḥ ||
Mendengar ucapan kedua pihak itu, Raja Vasu—tanpa menimbang kuat-lemahnya alasan mereka—segera memutuskan dengan tergesa: “Laksanakanlah yajña dengan bahan apa pun yang kebetulan dibawa atau diperoleh.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or judge) must deliberate and assess the merits and faults of competing claims before issuing guidance; impulsive rulings can distort dharma, especially in matters of ritual and public norms.
After hearing two sides, King Vasu gives a quick verdict without evaluating which argument is stronger, stating that a sacrifice should be performed using whatever materials are obtained—showing a failure of careful discernment.