Shloka 20
Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure
तं॑ भवान् मदपेक्षार्थ विधिवत् प्रतिपूजयेत् । स तु भक्तो<नुरक्तश्न मम नित्यमिति प्रभो
taṁ bhavān madapekṣārthaṁ vidhivat pratipūjayet | sa tu bhakto'nuraktaś ca mama nityam iti prabho ||
“Demi aku, hendaknya engkau menghormatinya menurut tata upacara, dengan penghormatan yang istimewa. Wahai tuan, ia senantiasa berbakti kepadaku dan teguh dalam kesetiaannya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should extend proper, rule-guided honor to a worthy person—especially when requested by a respected intermediary—because devotion and loyal service merit recognition; such reception is presented as a dharmic act of gratitude and right conduct.
The speaker conveys a request to a lordly addressee: receive and honor a particular person in the prescribed manner, explicitly stating that the person is continually devoted and loyal to the speaker, and therefore deserves special respect.