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Shloka 29

Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa

Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows

अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्‌ । अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते

aśvamedhasahasraṃ ca satyaṃ ca tulayā dhṛtam | aśvamedhasahasrād dhi satyam eva viśiṣyate ||

اگر ترازو کے ایک پلڑے میں ہزار اشومیدھ یگیوں کا پُنّیہ اور دوسرے پلڑے میں صرف سچ رکھا جائے تو ہزار اشومیدھوں کے مقابلے میں سچ ہی کا پلڑا بھاری ہوگا؛ کیونکہ سچ ہی برتر ہے۔

अश्वमेधसहस्रम्a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices
अश्वमेधसहस्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्वमेधसहस्र (अश्वमेध + सहस्र)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सत्यम्truth
सत्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसत्य
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
तुलयाby a balance/scale
तुलया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतुला
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
धृतम्weighed/placed (on the scale)
धृतम्:
TypeVerb
Rootधृ
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Passive (PPP)
अश्वमेधसहस्रात्than a thousand Aśvamedhas / from a thousand Aśvamedhas
अश्वमेधसहस्रात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootअश्वमेधसहस्र (अश्वमेध + सहस्र)
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
सत्यम्truth
सत्यम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसत्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
एवalone/only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
विशिष्यतेis superior/excels
विशिष्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + शिष्
FormPresent (Lat), Atmanepada, 3rd, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
A
Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
T
Truth (Satya)
B
Balance/scale (tulā)

Educational Q&A

Truthfulness is presented as a higher dharmic value than even the immense ritual merit of a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices; moral integrity outweighs ceremonial achievement.

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he uses a vivid comparison—placing ‘a thousand Aśvamedhas’ and ‘Truth’ on a scale—to teach that satya is the heavier, superior virtue.