Shloka 46
Adhyāya 33 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Post-Conflict Remorse and Inquiry on Āśrama Discipline (शोक-विमर्शः, आश्रम-जिज्ञासा)
एवमाथश्वासन कृत्वा सर्वराष्ट्रेषु भारत । यजस्व वाजिमेधेन यथेन्द्रो विजयी पुरा,भारत! इस प्रकार सारे राज्यमें शान्ति स्थापित करके तुम उसी प्रकार अश्वमेध यज्ञका अनुष्ठान करो, जैसे पूर्वकालमें विजयी इन्द्रने किया था
evam atha śvāsanaṃ kṛtvā sarvarāṣṭreṣu bhārata | yajasva vājimedhena yathendro vijayī purā ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, setelah engkau menegakkan ketenteraman dan damai di seluruh kerajaan, laksanakanlah korban suci Aśvamedha, sebagaimana Indra yang menang telah melakukannya pada zaman dahulu.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should first pacify and stabilize the realm—restoring trust and order—then undertake great public rites like the Aśvamedha to consolidate legitimacy and signal righteous sovereignty, following exemplary precedents (Indra).
Vyāsa instructs the Bhārata king (contextually Yudhiṣṭhira) that after establishing peace across the kingdoms, he should perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice, likening this royal act to Indra’s ancient victorious performance.