Shloka 26

Devanagari script

काज्चन: सुमहान्‌ पादस्तत्र कर्म चकार सः । ततः कुण्डानि पात्रीश्व पिठराण्यासनानि च,हिमालय पर्वतके उत्तर भागमें मेरु पर्वतके निकट एक महान सुवर्णमय पर्वत है। उसीके समीप उन्होंने यज्ञशाला बनवायी और वहीं यज्ञ-कार्य आरम्भ किया। उनकी आज्ञासे अनेक सुनारोंने आकर सुवर्णमय कुण्ड, सोनेके बर्तन, थाली और आसन (चौकी आदि) तैयार किये। उन सब वस्तुओंकी गणना असम्भव है

Transliteration

kāñcanaḥ sumahān pādas tatra karma cakāra saḥ | tataḥ kuṇḍāni pātrīś ca piṭharāṇy āsanāni ca ||

Translation

Vyāsa said: There, he prepared a very large golden platform and set the ritual work in motion. Then, at his command, many goldsmiths came and fashioned golden fire-pits, vessels, plates, and seats. The narrative underscores the king’s resolve to conduct the sacrifice with meticulous order and abundant resources, presenting royal wealth as an instrument placed in the service of a solemn dharmic rite rather than mere display.

Word by Word

कश्चनsomeone, a certain (person/thing)

सुमहान्very great

पादःa quarter/part; (lit.) foot

तत्रthere

कर्मwork, act, rite

चकारdid, performed

सःhe

ततःthen, thereafter

कुण्डानिpits/basins (kundas)

पात्रीषुin/among vessels (bowls/containers)

पिठराणिjars/pots

आसनानिseats, stools

चand

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

golden platform/base (kāñcanaḥ pādaḥ)

ritual work (karma)

fire-pits (kuṇḍāni)

vessels (pātrīḥ)

plates/dishes (piṭharāṇi)

seats (āsanāni)

goldsmiths (implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that material power and wealth gain ethical meaning when subordinated to dharmic purpose—here, careful preparation for a solemn sacrifice—emphasizing discipline, order, and responsibility in religious and royal action.

What is happening in the narrative?

A grand sacrificial setting is being prepared: a large golden base/platform is made, and artisans produce golden ritual implements—fire-pits, vessels, plates, and seats—so the yajña can proceed with full ceremonial completeness.