Shloka 20
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
अपरेद्युस्ततस्तस्या: क्रियते<त्युच्छूयो नृपैः । अलंकृताया: पिटकैर्गन्धमाल्यैश्न भूषणै:
aparedyus tataḥ tasyāḥ kriyate ’tyucchrāyo nṛpaiḥ | alaṅkṛtāyāḥ piṭakair gandhamālyaiś ca bhūṣaṇaiḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Pada hari berikutnya, para raja mengangkat tongkat itu ke tempat yang amat tinggi. Kemudian ia dihias dengan sarung kain, wangi-wangian, kalungan bunga, dan perhiasan—suatu penghormatan di hadapan khalayak yang menegaskan bahawa upacara ini ialah amalan bersama yang berdisiplin, bukan sekadar pertunjukan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined, collective reverence: rulers themselves uphold a shared rite by elevating and adorning the sacred object, suggesting that authority is strengthened when aligned with orderly religious and social duty (dharma).
On the day after the initial observance, the kings ceremonially raise the staff/pole to a high place and decorate it with a case, fragrances, garlands, and ornaments as part of a formal public ritual.