Shloka 22
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
तच्छुत्वा तु वसुस्तेषामविचार्य बलाबलम् | यथोपनीतैर्यष्टव्यमिति प्रोवाच पार्थिव:,यह सुनकर राजा वसुने उन दोनों पक्षोंके कथनमें कितना सार या असार है, इसका विचार न करके यों ही बोल दिया कि “जब जो वस्तु मिल जाय, उसीसे यज्ञ कर लेना चाहिये”
tac chrutvā tu vasus teṣām avicārya balābalam | yathopānītair yaṣṭavyam iti provāca pārthivaḥ ||
Hearing their statements, King Vasu—without weighing the strength or weakness (the merit or flaw) of either side’s reasoning—declared impulsively: “One should perform the sacrifice with whatever materials happen to be brought or obtained.” The verse highlights a lapse in ethical discernment: a ruler’s duty is not merely to pronounce, but to judge carefully before setting a norm for dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler (or judge) must deliberate and assess the merits and faults of competing claims before issuing guidance; impulsive rulings can distort dharma, especially in matters of ritual and public norms.
After hearing two sides, King Vasu gives a quick verdict without evaluating which argument is stronger, stating that a sacrifice should be performed using whatever materials are obtained—showing a failure of careful discernment.