Shloka 18

अश्वमेध-उपदेशः तथा मरुत्त-यज्ञ-धन-प्रसङ्गः

Counsel on Aśvamedha and the Marutta-treasure episode

Devanagari script

न च प्रतिनिधिं कर्तु चिकीर्षामि तपोधन । अत्र मे भगवन्‌ सम्यक्‌ साचिव्यं कर्तुमहसि,तपोधन! मुख्य वस्तुके अभावमें जो दूसरी कोई वस्तु दी जाती है, वह प्रतिनिधि दक्षिणा कहलाती है; किंतु प्रतिनिधि दक्षिणा देनेकी मेरी इच्छा नहीं होती; अतः भगवन्‌! इस विषयमें आप मुझे उचित सलाह देनेकी कृपा करें

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: na ca pratinidhiṃ kartuṃ cikīrṣāmi tapodhana | atra me bhagavan samyak sācivyaṃ kartum arhasi ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O ascetic rich in austerity, I do not wish to offer a substitute gift in place of what is truly required. Therefore, O venerable one, please give me sound counsel here—guide me rightly in this matter.”

Word by Word

• {'na ca': 'and not

• nor', 'pratinidhim': 'a substitute

• a replacement offering (especially a substitute dāna/dakṣiṇā when the principal item is unavailable)', 'kartum': 'to do

• to perform', 'cikīrṣāmi': 'I desire to do

• I intend', 'tapodhana': 'one whose wealth is tapas

• an austere sage', 'atra': 'here

• in this matter', 'me': 'for me

• my', 'bhagavan': 'venerable one

• revered lord (address to a sage)', 'samyak': 'properly

• in the right way', 'sācivyam': 'assistance

• guidance (lit. ‘ministerial help’)', 'kartum arhasi': 'you ought to do

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• tapodhana (a sage addressed)
• bhagavan (honorific for the sage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ritual and charity should not be reduced to mere formal substitutes when the ethical intent is to fulfill the principal obligation. Yudhiṣṭhira insists on correctness (samyak) and seeks authoritative guidance, showing humility and commitment to dharma over convenience.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Ashvamedha-related proceedings, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses an austere sage. He states that he does not want to give a ‘pratinidhi’ (substitute) dakṣiṇā and requests the sage’s proper counsel on what should be done.