Shloka 21
Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse
दीक्षयस्व त्वमात्मानं त्वं हि नः परमो गुरु: । त्वयीष्टवति दाशार्ह विपाप्मा भविता हाहम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dīkṣayasva tvam ātmānaṃ tvaṃ hi naḥ paramo guruḥ | tvayīṣṭavati dāśārha vipāpmā bhavitā hāham ||
Wahai Dāśārha, lakukanlah sendiri upacara dīkṣā bagi yajña ini, sebab engkaulah guru tertinggi kami. Bila engkau menuntaskan tata-ritus persembahan ini, niscaya aku pun akan menjadi bebas dari dosa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the ethical-religious idea that properly undertaken sacrificial consecration and performance, guided by a supreme guru, functions as a means of purification (removal of pāpa). It also highlights reverence toward the rightful spiritual authority—acknowledging Kṛṣṇa as the paramount guide whose ritual leadership is believed to confer moral and spiritual cleansing.
In the Ashvamedhika context, the speaker (as narrated by Vaiśampāyana) urges Kṛṣṇa (addressed as Dāśārha) to accept the dīkṣā and lead/complete the sacrificial rite. The speaker expresses confidence that once Kṛṣṇa has performed the sacrifice, the speaker’s sins will be destroyed and he will become purified.