ऋद्ध्या च वरुणं देवं स्पर्धमानो युधिष्ठिरः ॥
षडग्निनाथ यज्ञेन सो ऽयजद् दक्षिणावता ॥
सर्वाञ् जनान् सर्वकामैः समृद्धैः समतर्पयत् ॥
अन्नवान् बहुभक्ष्यश् च भुक्तवज्जनसंवृतः ॥
रत्नोपहारकर्मण्यो बभूव स समागमः ॥
ṛddhyā ca varuṇaṃ devaṃ spardhamāno yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
ṣaḍagninātha yajñena so 'yajad dakṣiṇāvatā ||
sarvāñ janān sarvakāmaiḥ samṛddhaiḥ samatarpayat ||
annavān bahubhakṣyaś ca bhuktavajjanasaṃvṛtaḥ ||
ratnopahārakarmaṇyo babhūva sa samāgamaḥ ||
Rivaling the god Varuna in opulence, Yudhishthira performed the sacrifice with six fires and abundant dakshina. That assembly became rich in food and abounding in delicacies, surrounded by a well-fed populace, and busy with the offering of jewels.
8ec352e7d1af · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:40:27 PM UTC
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Yudhishthira's wealth rivals Varuna, the lord of treasures — yet it is turned not to feasting for himself but to the sacrifice and to feeding the people: "surrounded by a well-fed populace." It is telling that the measure of greatness here is not what is amassed but what is distributed and consumed for the good of others. The verse teaches that the abundance of the righteous is justified by the fact that others are fed by it; wealth beside which people go hungry is shameful, while wealth that feeds everyone is blessed. Treasure turned into sacrifice and into bread for the people — this is a worthy rivalry with the gods.