Shloka 10
अध्याय १९० — वामदेव-वाम्य-वृत्तान्तः
The Vāmadeva Horses Episode and the Ethics of Promise
यजन्ते मां तथा वैश्या: स्वर्गलोकजिगीषया । चतुःसमुद्रपर्यन्तां मेरुमन्दर भूषणाम्
yajante māṃ tathā vaiśyāḥ svargalokajigīṣayā | catuḥsamudraparyantāṃ merumandara-bhūṣaṇām ||
神は言った。「同じくヴァイシャ（Vaiśya）も、天界を勝ち取らんとの欲求に駆られて我を礼拝する。（彼らが求めるのは）四つの海に囲まれ、メール山（Meru）とマンダラ山（Mandara）に飾られた国土である。」それは繁栄と宇宙的壮麗の幻視であり、信仰がしばしば純粋な離欲ではなく報いの希求によって動かされることを示している。
देव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that worship and sacrifice are often performed with specific aims—here, attaining Svarga and an expansive, prosperous dominion. It implicitly contrasts desire-driven religiosity (seeking rewards) with higher motives such as duty performed without attachment.
A divine speaker is describing how different groups approach worship. In this line, the Vaiśyas are said to worship with the ambition of gaining heaven and a vast, ocean-bounded realm ornamented by the great cosmic mountains Meru and Mandara.