Shloka 37
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
ब्राह्मणा: क्षत्रिया वैश्या: शूद्रा ये चाश्रितास्तप: । दानधमग्निना शुद्धास्ते स्वर्ग यान्ति भारत
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā ye cāśritās tapaḥ | dānadharmāgninā śuddhās te svargaṃ yānti bhārata ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Para Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, dan Śūdra—siapa pun di antara mereka yang berlindung pada tapa—setelah disucikan oleh api dana dan dharma, akan pergi ke surga, wahai Bhārata.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
All four varṇas can attain heavenly merit when they take up tapas and are purified through dāna (charity) and dharma (righteous conduct). The emphasis is on ethical action and disciplined practice as the means of purification.
Vaiśampāyana, continuing his narration, states a general dharmic principle: regardless of social class, those who adopt austerity and live by charity and dharma become purified—like gold refined by fire—and attain svarga.