Shloka 16
राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations
पवित्र परमं चैतत् पावन चैतदुत्तमम् | यदाश्वमेधावभृथं प्राप्स्यसे कुरुनन्दन,“कुरुनन्दन! तुम्हें जो अश्वमेध-यज्ञका अवभृथ-स्नान प्राप्त होगा, वह परम पवित्र, पावन और उत्तम है!
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pavitraṃ paramaṃ caitat pāvanaṃ caitad uttamam | yad aśvamedhāvabhṛthaṃ prāpsyase kurunandana ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai kebanggaan Kuru, avabhṛtha—mandi penutup Aśvamedha—yang akan engkau capai itu sungguh mahapenyuci, pemurni yang paling utama.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ritual completion (avabhṛtha) as a symbol of inner and outer purification: after great upheaval, the ruler must seek cleansing and re-ground his authority in dharma, not merely in power.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the Kuru king (Kurunandana), praising the forthcoming avabhṛtha bath of the Aśvamedha as supremely purifying, indicating the nearing completion and sanctifying culmination of the royal sacrifice.