Shloka 16
Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse
अश्वमेधो हि राजेन्द्र पावन: सर्वपाप्मनाम् । तेनेष्टवा त्वं विपाप्मा वै भविता नात्र संशय:
aśvamedho hi rājendra pāvanaḥ sarvapāpmnām | teniṣṭvā tvaṃ vipāpmā vai bhavitā nātra saṃśayaḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : «Ô le meilleur des rois, le sacrifice de l’Aśvamedha est un purificateur qui détruit toute forme de péché. L’ayant accompli, tu seras assurément sans faute—il n’y a là aucun doute.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the purificatory power of the Aśvamedha: when performed according to dharma, it is presented as a means to remove accumulated moral and ritual impurity, restoring the king’s fitness to rule and act righteously.
Vyāsa addresses the king (rājendra) and reassures him that undertaking the Aśvamedha will cleanse him of sin; the statement functions as authoritative counsel validating the sacrifice as a remedy for lingering guilt and impurity.