Shloka 13
Āraṇyaka-parva Adhyāya 199: Dharmavyādha on Svakarma, Vidhi, and the Limits of Ahiṃsā
स्वस्तिवचनमासीत् पुष्परथस्य प्रयोजनेन तमहमन्वगच्छं॑ स्वस्तिवाचितेषु ब्राह्मणेषु रथो ब्राह्मणानां दर्शित:,“उस दिन उनके यहाँ स्वस्तिवाचन हो रहा था। राजाके यहाँ एक ऐसा रथ था, जो पर्वत, आकाश और समुद्र आदि दुर्गम स्थानोंपर भी सुगमतासे आ-जा सकता था। उसका नाम था :पुष्परथ'। मैं उसीके प्रयोजनसे राजाके यहाँ गया था। जब ब्राह्मणलोग स्वस्तिवाचन कर चुके, तब राजाने ब्राह्मणोंको अपना वह रथ दिखाया
svastivacanam āsīt puṣparathasya prayojanena tam aham anvagacchaṁ svastivāciteṣu brāhmaṇeṣu ratho brāhmaṇānāṁ darśitaḥ
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Naquele dia realizava‑se o rito de svasti‑vācana, a recitação de bênçãos auspiciosas. Por causa do carro chamado Puṣparatha, fui à presença daquele rei. Quando os brāhmaṇas terminaram as recitações propícias, o rei mostrou-lhes esse carro.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic order in royal life: auspicious rites and the honoring of brāhmaṇas precede worldly or royal displays. Sacred speech (svasti-vācana) frames action, suggesting that power and possessions should be situated within ritual propriety and respect for religious authority.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that an auspicious benediction ceremony was underway at a king’s place. He went there specifically in connection with the chariot called Puṣparatha. After the brāhmaṇas finished the benedictions, the king displayed the chariot to them.