Shloka 16
तेन त्वं यज राजेन्द्र शुणु चेद॑ं वचो मम । य इमे पृथिवीपाला: करदास्तव पार्थिव,'राजेन्द्र! आप उसीके द्वारा भगवानका यजन कीजिये और इसके सम्बन्धमें मेरी यह बात सुनिये। पृथ्वीनाथ! ये जो सब भूपाल आपको कर देते हैं, इन्हें आज्ञा दीजिये--ये लोग आपको सुवर्णके बने हुए आभूषण तथा सुवर्ण “कर' के रूपमें अर्पण करें। नृपश्रेष्ठ! उसी सुवर्णसे आप एक हल तैयार करवाइये
tena tvaṁ yaja rājendra śṛṇu cedam vaco mama | ya ime pṛthivīpālāḥ karadās tava pārthiva ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Therefore, O best of kings, worship by means of that, and listen to these words of mine. O lord of the earth, those rulers of the land who pay you tribute—issue them a command.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous kingship as combining ritual responsibility (yajña/worship) with orderly governance: a king may command tributary rulers, but the command is presented as counsel aimed at a sanctioned purpose rather than mere accumulation.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king, urging him to perform worship using a specified means and to heed further advice. He points to subordinate rulers who pay tribute and indicates that the king should issue them instructions—setting up the next action involving tribute and its intended use.