Shloka 22
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
स्वर्ग येन द्विजा: प्राप्त: सभार्य: ससुतस्नुष: । यथा चार्थ शरीरस्य ममेदं काउ्चनीकृतम्
svargaṁ yena dvijāḥ prāptaḥ sabhāryaḥ sasuta-snuṣaḥ | yathā cārtha-śarīrasya mamedam kāñcanīkṛtam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “O Brāhmaṇa, isasalaysay ko ang pangyayari kung paanong sa bisa ng pag-aalay na iyon, ang mga dakilang dwija—kasama ang kanilang mga asawa, mga anak na lalaki, at mga manugang na babae—ay nagkamit ng karapatang makapasok sa langit; at kung paanong doon, ginawa nilang maging ginto ang kalahati ng aking katawan. Isasalaysay ko ito ayon sa tunay na nangyari.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of dāna (generous giving): meritorious charity can elevate not only the giver but also the household (wife, children, daughters-in-law), leading to heavenly attainment and extraordinary auspicious results.
Vaiśaṁpāyana introduces a forthcoming account: he will explain how certain dvijas, through a particular gift, reached heaven with their families and how, in that context, ‘half of my body’ became golden—setting up a miraculous consequence tied to merit.