Shloka 31
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
ततो जित्वा महीं कृत्स्नां रामो राजीवलोचन:
tato jitvā mahīṁ kṛtsnāṁ rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ | mahārāja! tataḥ samastaṁ pṛthivīṁ jitvā vīraḥ kamalanayanaḥ paraśurāmaḥ brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyaiś ca satkṛtaṁ sarvakāmapradaṁ cāśvamedhayajñaṁ samājahāra ||
Bhishma said: “Then, O great king, Rama—lotus-eyed and heroic—having conquered the entire earth, performed the Aśvamedha sacrifice, a rite honored by both Brahmins and Kshatriyas and regarded as fulfilling all desired aims. The narrative underscores how sovereign power, once obtained, is ritually legitimized and directed toward sanctioned religious duty rather than mere domination.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that worldly conquest is not presented as an end in itself; it is followed by a Vedic sacrifice that confers social-religious legitimacy. Power is framed as accountable to dharma, mediated through ritual and recognition by both Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
Bhishma narrates that Paraśurāma (Rama), after conquering the whole earth, performs the Aśvamedha sacrifice—an eminent royal rite—described as honored by the leading social orders and as capable of fulfilling aims and desires.