Shloka 8
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.
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ହେ କୁରୁନନ୍ଦନ, ମହାରାଜ! ପ୍ରଥମେ ସର୍ବମେଧ ଓ ଅଶ୍ୱମେଧ ଯଜ୍ଞର ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କର; ତାହାଦ୍ୱାରା ତୁମେ ପରମ ଗତି ପାଇବ। ଏବଂ ହେ ପାଣ୍ଡୁପୁତ୍ର! ବହୁ ଦକ୍ଷିଣାଯୁକ୍ତ ଯଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କରେ ତୁମ ସମସ୍ତ ଭ୍ରାତାଙ୍କୁ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ କରି ତୁମେ ଅତୁଳ କୀର୍ତ୍ତି ଲାଭ କରିବ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.