Shloka 38
काञ्चनस्तम्भनिर्यूहवैदूर्यकृतवेदिकम् । जाम्बूनदमर्यैर्दिव्यैर्गवाक्षै: सर्वतो वृतम्,भारत! नवाँ पारण पूर्ण होनेपर श्रोताको यज्ञोंके राजा अश्वमेधका फल प्राप्त होता है। वह सोनेके खंभों और छज्जोंसे सुशोभित, वैदूर्यमणिकी बनी हुई वेदियोंसे विभूषित, चारों ओरसे जाम्बूनदमय दिव्य वातायनोंसे अलंकृत, स्वर्गवासी गन्धर्वों एवं अप्सराओंसे सेवित दिव्य विमानपर आरूढ़ हो अपनी उत्कृष्ट शोभासे प्रकाशित होता हुआ स्वर्गमें दूसरे देवताकी भाँति देवताओंके साथ आनन्द भोगता है। उसके अंगोंमें दिव्य माला एवं दिव्य वस्त्र शोभा पाते हैं तथा वह दिव्य चन्दनसे चर्चित होता है
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
kāñcanastambhaniryūhavaidūryakṛtavedikam |
jāmbūnadamayarair divyair gavākṣaiḥ sarvato vṛtam, bhārata |
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Bhārata, it was surrounded on every side by divine lattice-windows made of Jāmbūnada gold; it was adorned with golden pillars and projecting cornices, and furnished with platforms (altars) fashioned of vaidūrya (cat’s-eye gemstone).” In context, the passage describes the splendor of the heavenly conveyance and rewards promised for completing a sacred vow, emphasizing the Mahābhārata’s ethic that disciplined observance and meritorious acts are believed to yield exalted posthumous attainments.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse supports the epic’s broader moral logic that disciplined observance of dharma—through vows, sacrifices, and meritorious conduct—bears fruit as elevated states and honors in the afterlife, symbolized here by celestial architecture and divine adornment.
Vaiśampāyana is describing a divine, richly ornamented celestial structure/vehicle—golden pillars and cornices, gemstone platforms, and golden lattice-windows—within a passage that narrates the heavenly reward granted to one who completes a sacred observance.