Shloka 22
Plakṣāvataraṇa–Yamunā Tīrtha and Prajāpati’s Vedī
Kurukṣetra Threshold
वेदी प्रजापतेरेषा समन््तात् पज्चयोजना । कुरोर्वे यज्ञशीलस्य क्षेत्रमेतन्न्महात्मन:,यह सब ओर पाँच योजन फैली हुई प्रजापतिकी यज्ञवेदी है। यही यज्ञपरायण महात्मा राजा कुरुका क्षेत्र है
vedī prajāpater eṣā samantāt pañcayojanā | kuror vai yajñaśīlasya kṣetram etan mahātmanaḥ ||
“Inilah vedi (altar) Prajāpati, membentang lima yojana ke segala arah. Inilah tanah suci milik Raja Kuru yang berhati agung, termasyhur karena keteguhannya dalam yajña.”
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a land becomes sacred through dharmic action—especially selfless, order-sustaining ritual (yajña) performed by righteous rulers. Kurukṣetra is presented as a moral landscape created and maintained by exemplary kingship and sacrificial responsibility.
During the pilgrimage discourse in the Vana Parva, the sage Lomaśa identifies Kurukṣetra for the listeners, describing it as Prajāpati’s vast sacrificial altar and as the consecrated region associated with the great King Kuru, famed for his sacrificial devotion.