Shloka 21
अश्वमेध-उपदेशः तथा मरुत्त-यज्ञ-धन-प्रसङ्गः
Counsel on Aśvamedha and the Marutta-treasure episode
उत्सृष्टं ब्राह्मणैर्यज्ञे मरुत्तस्य महात्मन: । तदानयस्व कौन्तेय पर्याप्तं॑ तद् भविष्यति,'पार्थ! यद्यपि तुम्हारा खजाना इस समय खाली हो गया है तथापि वह बहुत शीघ्र भर जायगा। हिमालय पर्वतपर महात्मा मरुत्तके यज्ञमें ब्राह्मणोंने जो धन छोड़ दिया था, वह वहीं पड़ा हुआ है। कुन्तीकुमारं उसे ले आओ। वह तुम्हारे लिये पर्याप्त होगा”
utsṛṣṭaṃ brāhmaṇair yajñe maruttasya mahātmanaḥ | tad ānayāsva kaunteya paryāptaṃ tad bhaviṣyati ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O son of Kuntī, bring that wealth which the brāhmaṇas left behind at the sacrifice of the great-souled Marutta. It will be sufficient.” In context, Yudhiṣṭhira points to a righteous, non-violent means of replenishing resources for the royal duty ahead—securing what was lawfully abandoned after a sacred rite rather than burdening subjects or resorting to coercion.
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal needs should be met through dharmic means: Yudhiṣṭhira directs Arjuna to obtain wealth that was lawfully left after a sacred rite, emphasizing ethical sourcing of resources and respect for religious-social norms.
With the treasury depleted, Yudhiṣṭhira instructs Arjuna (Kaunteya) to fetch the treasure left by brāhmaṇas at King Marutta’s great sacrifice, assuring it will be sufficient for their purposes.