Shloka 111
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
तस्य सत्याभिसंधस्य सक्तुदानेन चैव ह । शरीरार्थ च मे विप्रा: शातकुम्भमयं कृतम्,विप्रवरो! उन सत्यप्रतिज्ञ ब्राह्मणके सत्तूदानसे मेरा यह आधा शरीर भी सुवर्णमय हो गया
tasya satyābhisaṃdhasya saktudānena caiva ha | śarīrārthaṃ ca me viprāḥ śātakumbhamayaṃ kṛtam ||
“O brāhmaṇas, by the power of that man’s unwavering resolve to truth—and indeed by his gift of parched grain—this very body of mine has, as it were, been made of pure gold. Such is the transforming merit of a truthful vow joined with sincere charity.”
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness upheld as a firm vow (satyābhisaṃdha) and even a humble act of charity (saktudāna) are portrayed as immensely potent, capable of ‘transmuting’ one’s condition—symbolized by the body becoming golden—indicating the exalted merit of integrity joined with generosity.
The speaker addresses brāhmaṇas and declares that due to a certain person’s steadfast commitment to truth and his offering of simple food (parched grain), the speaker’s body has become like pure gold—an illustrative statement highlighting the extraordinary spiritual efficacy of truthful resolve and sincere giving.