Shloka 17
अश्वमेध-उपदेशः तथा मरुत्त-यज्ञ-धन-प्रसङ्गः
Counsel on Aśvamedha and the Marutta-treasure episode
पृथिवी दक्षिणा चात्र विधि: प्रथमकल्पित: । विद्वद्धिः परिदृष्टोड्यं शिष्टो विधिविपर्यय:
pṛthivī dakṣiṇā cātra vidhiḥ prathamakalpitaḥ | vidvadbhiḥ paridṛṣṭo 'yaṃ śiṣṭo vidhiviparyayaḥ ||
尤提士提罗说道：“在此仪式中，合乎法度的祭礼酬赠（达克希那）应当是大地本身；这是戒律所设的首要安排。学者们认定此为正确而具权威的程序——凡另行其事者，皆为违逆所定之法。”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses fidelity to śāstric injunction and learned tradition: in an Aśvamedha, the highest and properly prescribed dakṣiṇā is the gift of the earth/kingdom itself; substituting lesser arrangements is portrayed as a deviation from the intended rule.
Yudhiṣṭhira is discussing the correct procedure for the Aśvamedha sacrifice, specifically what should be given as dakṣiṇā. He asserts that authoritative experts regard gifting the entire earth as the primary, proper standard, and that alternative practices are contrary to the prescribed method.