Shloka 18
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 178 — Royal Contestants Assemble; Cosmic Witnesses; The Bow Remains Unstrung
खनताधिगतं वित्तं केनचिद् भुगुवेश्मनि । तद् वित्त ददृशु: सर्वे समेता: क्षत्रियर्षभा:,तात! कुछ दूसरे-दूसरे कारणोंका विचार करके उस समय उन्होंने क्षत्रियोंको धन प्रदान किया था। वत्स! तदनन्तर किसी क्षत्रियने अकस्मात् धरती खोदते-खोदते किसी भुगुवंशीके घरमें गड़ा हुआ धन पा लिया। तब सभी श्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियोंने एकत्र होकर उस धनको देखा
khanatādhigataṃ vittaṃ kenacid bhṛguveśmani | tad vittaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarve sametāḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ |
Sinabi ni Vasiṣṭha: “Habang naghuhukay, may isang taong nakatagpo ng yamang nakabaon sa bahay ng isang inapo ni Bhṛgu. Pagkaraan, nagtipon ang lahat ng pangunahing Kṣatriya at sinuri ang kayamanang iyon.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds an ethical problem around wealth and rightful ownership: treasure discovered in another’s dwelling (especially a Brāhmaṇa/Bhārgava household) becomes a test of restraint, justice, and adherence to dharma rather than mere power-based appropriation.
In Vasiṣṭha’s narration, someone digging unexpectedly finds buried wealth in a Bhṛgu-descendant’s house. Hearing of it, the leading Kṣatriyas gather and inspect the treasure, setting up a dispute or deliberation about how such wealth should be treated.