अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः
Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha
मणिरत्नं सुवर्णं वा गावो यद्वा समुद्यतम्।तत्प्रयच्छ नरश्रेष्ठ धरण्या न प्रयोजनम्।।।।
maṇiratnaṃ suvarṇaṃ vā gāvo yadvā samudyatam |
tat prayaccha naraśreṣṭha dharaṇyā na prayojanam ||
“ஓ நரசிறந்தவனே! மணிரத்தினமோ, பொன்னோ, பசுக்களோ—உடனே கிடைப்பதைத் தாரும்; இந்தத் தரணியை உடைமையாக எங்களுக்கு வேண்டாம்.”
O best of men! give us gems or gold or cows or whichever is readily available. We have no use with this earth".
Dharma of appropriate giving: charity should be practical and suited to the recipient’s life-purpose, not merely grand in symbolism.
The priests specify acceptable substitutes for the land-gift—portable wealth consistent with priestly life.
Prudence and restraint—refusing power and requesting only what supports their dharmic vocation.