Shloka 117
Śoka-śamana: Kṛṣṇa’s Consolation and Nārada’s Exempla to Sṛñjaya
Chapter 29
सौवर्णी पृथिवीं कृत्वा दशव्यामां द्विरायताम् । दक्षिणामददद् राजा वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ,“राजा गयने महायज्ञ अश्वमेधमें दस व्याम (पचास हाथ) चौड़ी और इससे दूनी लंबी सोनेकी पृथ्वी बनवाकर दक्षिणारूपसे दान की थी
sauvarṇī pṛthivīṃ kṛtvā daśavyāmāṃ dvirāyatām | dakṣiṇām adadad rājā vājimedhe mahākratau |
Vāyu berkata: “Sang raja menyuruh dibuat ‘bumi emas’—sepuluh vyāma lebarnya dan dua kali itu panjangnya—lalu menganugerahkannya sebagai dakṣiṇā dalam mahākratu Aśvamedha.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharmic kingship expressed through regulated generosity: a ruler should convert wealth into merit by giving appropriate dakṣiṇā in a properly performed sacrifice, treating riches as instruments of duty rather than private indulgence.
Vāyu describes a king’s extraordinary gift at an Aśvamedha: a gold-made ‘earth’ (a crafted representation/expanse) measured ten vyāmas wide and twice as long, given as the ritual fee to officiants, illustrating the scale and intent of sacrificial giving.