Shloka 48
जहाँ पूर्वकालमें साक्षात् राजाधिराज सोमने विधिपूर्वक राजसूय-यज्ञका अनुष्ठान किया था। उस श्रेष्ठ यजञ्ञमें बुद्धिमान विप्रवर महात्मा अत्रिने होताका कार्य किया था ।। यस्यान्ते5 भूत् सुमहद् दानवानां दैतेयानां राक्षसानां च देवै: । यस्मिन् युद्ध तारकाख्य॑ सुतीव्र यत्र स्कन्दस्तारकाख्यं जघान
yatra pūrvakāle sākṣāt rājādhirājaḥ somo vidhivat rājasūya-yajñam anuṣṭhitavān | tasmin śreṣṭhe yajñe buddhimān vipravaro mahātmā atriṇe hotṛ-kāryaṃ kṛtavān || yasyānte 'bhūt sumahat dānavānāṃ daiteyānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca devaiḥ | yasmin yuddhe tārakākhyaṃ sutīvraṃ yatra skandas tārakākhyaṃ jaghāna ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: In that place, in ancient times, Soma himself—the sovereign among kings—performed the Rājasūya sacrifice in due ritual order. In that excellent sacrifice, the wise and foremost of Brahmins, the great-souled Atri, served as the Hotṛ priest. At the conclusion of that rite there arose a mighty conflict between the gods and the Dānavas, Daityas, and Rākṣasas—a fierce war in which Skanda slew the formidable demon named Tāraka. The passage recalls how properly ordered sacrifice and priestly integrity are linked, in epic memory, with the restoration of cosmic order when destructive forces are overcome.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links rightful sovereignty and ritual propriety (vidhivat rājasūya) with the maintenance of cosmic order: when dharma is upheld through correct rites and qualified priests, destructive forces are ultimately checked, symbolized by Skanda’s slaying of Tāraka.
Vaiśaṃpāyana recalls a sacred location where Soma once performed a Rājasūya with the sage Atri as Hotṛ; the recollection expands into a mythic memory of a great war between gods and demonic hosts, culminating in Skanda killing the demon Tāraka.