Shloka 18
राजपूजाविधानम् / Royal Reception Protocols during Āśvamedha Preparations
ततो यज्ञ महाबाहुवजिमेध॑ महाक्रतुम् । बद्धन्नदक्षिणं राजा सर्वकामगुणान्वितम्,फिर उन महाबाहु नरेशने बहुत-से अन्नकी दक्षिणासे युक्त तथा सम्पूर्ण कामना और गुणोंसे सम्पन्न उस अश्वमेध नामक महायज्ञका अनुष्ठान आरम्भ कर दिया
tato yajñaṃ mahābāhur aśvamedhaṃ mahākratum | baddhvā na dakṣiṇaṃ rājā sarvakāmagunānvitam ||
Kemudian raja yang perkasa itu memulakan korban agung yang dikenali sebagai Aśvamedha—suatu upacara yang luas—setelah mengatur dakṣiṇā yang melimpah, serta menyempurnakannya dengan segala tujuan yang dihajati dan segala keutamaan yang membawa berkat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic kingship: a ruler should pursue sovereignty and prosperity through lawful rites and, crucially, through generosity (dakṣiṇā). The ethical emphasis is that public power is legitimized by adherence to sacred order and by giving that sustains religious and social institutions.
Vaishampayana narrates that the king begins the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice. He has already arranged ample ritual gifts (dakṣiṇā), and the rite is described as complete in desired aims and virtues—signaling a formally proper, well-endowed imperial ceremony.