Śaṅkha–Likhita Upākhyāna: Daṇḍa, Confession, and the Purification of Kingship (शङ्ख-लिखितोपाख्यानम्)
“कुरुनन्दन! महाराज! पहले सर्वमेध और अश्वमेध यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करो। उससे परम गतिको प्राप्त करोगे ।।
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Kurunandana! Mahārāja! pūrvaṃ sarvamedha-aśvamedha-yajñānām anuṣṭhānaṃ kuru. tataḥ paramāṃ gatiṃ prāpsyasi. bhrātṝś ca sarvān kratubhiḥ saṃyojya bahu-dakṣiṇaiḥ, samprāptaḥ kīrtim atulāṃ pāṇḍaveya bhaviṣyasi.
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「おお、クル族の喜びよ、偉大なる王よ——まずサルヴァメーダ(Sarvamedha)とアシュヴァメーダ(Aśvamedha)の祭祀を執り行いなさい。そうすれば、汝は最高の境地に到達するであろう。さらに、パーンドゥの子よ、兄弟たちすべてを、厚い布施(dakṣiṇā)に満ちた祭祀に参与させるなら、比類なき名声を得るであろう。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
A king should re-establish dharma after conflict through sanctioned Vedic rites and generous giving. Performing great sacrifices with abundant dakṣiṇā is presented as a means to both spiritual uplift (paramā gati) and public legitimacy (atulā kīrti), especially when the ruler involves his kin in shared religious duty.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Vaiśampāyana reports counsel directed to the Kuru king (Yudhiṣṭhira): he is urged to undertake the Sarvamedha and Aśvamedha and to engage all his brothers in richly endowed sacrifices, thereby securing supreme attainment and unmatched renown.