Shloka 27
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
अन्यायोपगतं द्रव्यमभी क्ष्णं यो हपण्डित: । धर्माभिशंकी यजते न स धर्मफलं लभेत्,जो मूर्ख अन्यायोपार्जित धनका बारंबार संग्रह करके धर्मके विषयमें संशय रखते हुए यजन करता है, उसे धर्मका फल नहीं मिलता
anyāyopagataṃ dravyam abhīkṣṇaṃ yo ha paṇḍitaḥ | dharmābhiśaṅkī yajate na sa dharmaphalaṃ labhet |
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను— పండితుడని పేరున్నవాడైనా, అన్యాయంగా పొందిన ధనాన్ని పదేపదే కూడబెట్టుకొని, ధర్మంపై సందేహం పెట్టుకొని యజ్ఞం చేస్తే అతనికి ధర్మఫలం లభించదు।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Merit (dharmaphala) depends not only on performing rites but on the ethical source of one’s resources and one’s sincere alignment with dharma. Wealth gained through injustice, even if used in sacrifice, does not yield the true fruit of righteousness—especially when the sacrificer remains inwardly doubtful about dharma.
In Vaiśampāyana’s discourse, a moral principle is stated in the context of dharmic instruction: ritual performance (yajña) is evaluated by the purity of means (how wealth is acquired) and the sacrificer’s inner disposition. The verse functions as a caution against attempting to ‘purchase’ virtue through offerings funded by wrongdoing.