Mahabharata Udyoga Parva – अश्वमेध सहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम

Shloka (श्लोक)

अश्वमेध सहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम
नाभिजानामि यद्य अस्य सत्यस्यार्धम अवाप्नुयात

⚡ Quick Meaning

Even a thousand Ashwamedha sacrifices are not worth half a truthful deed.

Translations

English Translation

This shloka conveys the idea that the weight of truth is far greater than the performance of religious rituals. The metaphor of a thousand Ashwamedha sacrifices serves to emphasize that genuine truthfulness holds more value in the eyes of virtue than grandiose sacrifices lacking authenticity.

हिंदी अनुवाद

यह श्लोक यह बताता है कि सत्य का महत्व धार्मिक अनुष्ठानों की तुलना में कहीं अधिक है। हजार अश्वमेध यज्ञों का एक सच के कार्य के आधे के बराबर भी नहीं होता है।

Commentary

Context

This verse focuses on the deeper essence of actions, questioning the value assigned to rituals without truthfulness at their core.

Meaning

The shloka teaches that living a life grounded in truth is far superior to mere ritualistic practices devoid of honesty.

Application

Prioritize truth in all dealings, recognizing it as the foundation upon which meaningful actions are built.