Shloka 21
Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)
वीरुधश्रैव वक्षांश्व यज्ञार्थ वै तथौषधी: । पशुंश्चैव तथा मेध्यान् यज्ञार्थानि हवींषि च,इसी उद्देश्यसे उन्होंने यज्ञसम्पादनके लिये नाना प्रकारकी लता-वेलों, वृक्षों, ओषधियों, मेध्य पशुओं तथा यज्ञार्थक हविष्योंकी भी सृष्टि की है
vīrudhaś caiva vṛkṣāṃś ca yajñārthaṃ vai tathauṣadhīḥ | paśūṃś caiva tathā medhyān yajñārthāni havīṃṣi ca |
Nakula berkata: Demi yajña, Dia melahirkan tumbuhan menjalar dan pepohon, demikian juga herba perubatan; dan juga binatang yang layak bagi kesucian ritual, beserta havis, iaitu persembahan yang ditujukan untuk upacara korban. Petikan ini menggambarkan bahawa penciptaan sendiri tersusun menuju dharma: sumber dunia bukan semata-mata untuk dimakan, tetapi untuk digunakan secara terkawal dan menyucikan melalui yajña, yang memelihara keharmonian kosmos dan masyarakat.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that creation is structured to support dharma through yajña: plants, animals, and oblations are presented as provisions meant for sanctified, regulated use, emphasizing responsibility and ethical restraint rather than mere enjoyment.
Nakula is describing how the Creator arranged the world’s components—vegetation, medicinal herbs, suitable animals, and sacrificial offerings—so that sacrificial rites can be performed, implying that yajña is a sustaining principle for society and the cosmos.