Shloka 9
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 65 — Duḥśāsana’s Elephant Corps Engages Arjuna; Retreat to the Śakaṭa-vyūha
वार्क्षश्व॒ यूपा यावन्त अश्वमेधे महामखे । ते तथैव पुनश्चान्ये तावनन्त: काउ्चना5भवन्,उनके महायज्ञ अश्वमेधमें जितने काष्ठके यूप थे, वे तो ज्यों-के-त्यों थे ही, फिर उतने ही और सुवर्णमय यूप बनाये गये थे
vārkṣāś ca yūpā yāvanta aśvamedhe mahāmakhe | te tathaiva punaś cānye tāvantaḥ kāñcanābhavan ||
ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ସେଇ ମହା ଅଶ୍ୱମେଧ ଯଜ୍ଞରେ ଯେତେ କାଠର ଯୂପ ଥିଲା, ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକ ତେମିତି ରହିଲା; ପୁଣି ସେତେଇ ସଂଖ୍ୟାର ଅନ୍ୟ ଯୂପ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣରେ ନିର୍ମିତ ହେଲା।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how ritual dharma can be pursued on a vast scale with immense wealth—wooden yūpas preserved and an equal number made of gold—inviting reflection on the ethical tension between genuine righteousness and merit-seeking through grandeur and display.
Nārada describes the extraordinary arrangements of a grand Aśvamedha: the existing wooden sacrificial posts remained, and additionally the same number of golden posts were produced, emphasizing the magnificence and lavishness of the sacrifice.