Shloka 6
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
अथ कस्मात् स नकुलो गर्हयामास त॑ क्रतुम् । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञं राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मन:,फिर उस नेवलेने महात्मा राजा युधिष्ठिरके उस अश्वमेध नामक महायज्ञकी निन्दा क्यों की?
atha kasmāt sa nakulo garhayāmāsa taṁ kratum | aśvamedhaṁ mahāyajñaṁ rājñas tasya mahātmanaḥ ||
แล้วเหตุใดพังพอนตัวนั้นจึงกล่าวติเตียนพิธีนั้น—อัศวเมธมหายัญ—ซึ่งพระราชาผู้มหาตมะได้ทรงประกอบ?
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral inquiry: even a celebrated royal sacrifice can be questioned if its inner spirit—humility, compassion, and purity of intent—falls short. It prepares the reader for a comparison between external magnitude and genuine ethical merit.
Janamejaya asks why the mongoose (a wondrous witness in the episode) condemned the great Aśvamedha sacrifice performed by the noble king (Yudhiṣṭhira). The question sets up the explanation of the mongoose’s criticism and the standards by which it judges the rite.