Shloka 2
Adhyāya 57 — Arjuna’s Vow-Anxiety, Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel, and the Pāśupata Authorization
तस्याश्वमेधे राजर्षेदेशाद्देशात् समीयुषाम् । शिक्षाक्षरविधिज्ञानां नासीत् संख्या विपश्चिताम्,उन राजर्षिके अश्वमेध-यज्ञमें देश-देशसे आये हुए शिक्षाशास्त्र, अक्षर (विभिन्न देशोंकी लिपि) और यज्ञविधिके ज्ञाता विद्वानोंकी गिनती नहीं थी
tasyāśvamedhe rājarṣe deśād deśāt samīyuṣām | śikṣākṣaravidhijñānāṁ nāsīt saṅkhyā vipaścitām ||
Wahai resi-raja, pada upacara Aśvamedha miliknya itu, para cendekia datang dari berbagai negeri; jumlah orang bijak yang menguasai śikṣā (ilmu pelafalan), akṣara (huruf dan aksara), serta tata cara ritual (vidhi) tak terhitung banyaknya.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal that a great royal sacrifice is grounded in learned expertise and correct ritual practice—honoring knowledge (śikṣā, akṣara, vidhi) as essential to righteous kingship.
Nārada describes a grand Aśvamedha where innumerable scholars and ritual specialists from many regions assemble, emphasizing the scale and prestige of the rite and the breadth of learned participation.