Shloka 20
Parīkṣit-janma-saṃkaṭa and Kuntī’s petition to Vāsudeva (परिक्षिज्जन्मसंकटं कुन्त्याः प्रार्थना च)
एतद् वित्तं तदभवद् यदुद्धप्रे युधिष्ठिर: । षोडशाष्टौ चतुर्विशत्सहस्रं भारलक्षणम्,द्वैपायनाभ्यनुज्ञात: पुरस्कृत्य पुरोहितम् । युधिष्ठिरने वहाँ जितना धन खुदवाया था, वह सोलह करोड़ आठ लाख और चौबीस हजार भार सुवर्ण था। उन्होंने उपर्युक्त सब वाहनोंपर धन लद॒वाकर पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरने पुनः महादेवजीका पूजन किया और व्यासजीकी आज्ञा लेकर पुरोहित धौम्य मुनिको आगे करके हस्तिनापुरको प्रस्थान किया
etad vittaṃ tad abhavad yad uddhṛtaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | ṣoḍaśāṣṭau caturviṃśat-sahasraṃ bhāra-lakṣaṇam, dvaipāyanābhyanujñātaḥ puraskṛtya purohitam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The wealth that Yudhiṣṭhira had caused to be brought forth amounted to sixteen crores, eight lakhs, and twenty-four thousand bhāras of gold. Having obtained the permission of Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) and placing his family priest at the forefront, Yudhiṣṭhira proceeded onward—an act that frames royal prosperity as legitimate only when gathered and deployed under sacred counsel and priestly guidance.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal wealth is portrayed as dharmically valid when it is gathered and used under the sanction of spiritual authority (Vyāsa) and in alignment with priestly guidance, emphasizing restraint, legitimacy, and accountability in kingship.
The narrator states the immense quantity of gold Yudhiṣṭhira had brought forth (measured in bhāras). With Vyāsa’s permission and with the royal priest placed foremost, Yudhiṣṭhira proceeds onward, marking a transition from accumulation to sanctioned action within the Aśvamedha-related events.