Shloka 51
Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)
तैश्नोक्तो यज्ञियान् देशान् धर्मारण्यं तथैव च । जुगुप्समानो धावन् स तं यज्ञं समुपासदत्,उन्होंने ही उस नेवलेको यज्ञसम्बन्धी स्थान और धर्मारण्यका पता बताया था। वह धर्मराजकी निन्दाके उद्देश्यसे दौड़ता हुआ उस यज्ञमें जा पहुँचा था
taiś cokto yajñiyān deśān dharmāraṇyaṃ tathaiva ca | jugupsamāno dhāvan sa taṃ yajñaṃ samupāsadat ||
Having been told of the sacrificial locales and likewise of Dharmāraṇya, the mongoose—driven by contempt and intent on censuring Dharmarāja’s rite—ran swiftly and arrived at that sacrifice.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical critique: mere grandeur of ritual does not guarantee moral superiority; intention and true righteousness can be questioned, and even a celebrated sacrifice may be subjected to scrutiny.
A mongoose, having learned the locations connected with the sacrifice and the place called Dharmāraṇya, runs to Yudhiṣṭhira’s sacrificial arena with a disparaging purpose, intending to denounce or undermine the rite.