Shloka 23
Adhyāya 33: Antarvedī-Samāgama, Arghya-Nirṇaya, and Śiśupāla’s Objection
वैशम्पायन उवाच त॑ं कृष्ण: प्रत्युवाचेदं बहूकत्वा गुणविस्तरम् । त्वमेव राजशार्दूल सम्राडहों महाक्रतुम् । सम्प्राप्रुहि त्वया प्राप्ते कृतकृत्यास्ततो वयम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | taṃ kṛṣṇaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ bahūkṛtvā guṇavistaram | tvam eva rājaśārdūla samrāḍ arho mahākratum | samprāpnuhi tvayā prāpte kṛtakṛtyās tato vayam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors Kṛṣṇa lui répondit, après avoir longuement exposé les mérites du rite : «Ô tigre parmi les rois, toi seul es digne d’être empereur. C’est donc toi qui dois recevoir la consécration de ce grand sacrifice. Quand tu l’auras obtenu (et mené à son accomplissement), nous serons tous comblés dans notre dessein.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate sovereignty is tied to worthiness and proper dharmic procedure: Kṛṣṇa urges the king to undertake the great royal rite because he is fit to be samrāṭ, and the community’s aims are fulfilled when rightful authority is established through sanctioned means.
Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration to Janamejaya, Kṛṣṇa responds after describing the merits of the Rājasūya and exhorts the addressed king—praised as rājaśārdūla—to accept the consecration/undertaking of the great sacrifice, stating that once he does so, their collective purpose will be accomplished.