Shloka 1
अर्जुनदुःखहेतुप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the cause of Arjuna’s recurring hardship
Book 14, Chapter 89
पम्प छा अर: एकोननवतितमो< ध्याय: युधिष्ठिरका ब्राह्मणोंको दक्षिणा देना और राजाओंको भेंट देकर विदा करना वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रपयित्वा पशूनन्यान् विधिवद् द्विजसत्तमा: । त॑ तुरडूं यथाशास्त्रमालभन्त द्विजातय:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: śrapayitvā paśūn anyān vidhivad dvijasattamāḥ | taṁ turaṅgaṁ yathāśāstram ālabhanta dvijātayaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच— जनमेजय! ते द्विजसत्तमाः शास्त्रविधिना अन्यान् पशून् सम्यक् संश्रप्य, ततः तमेव तुरगं यथाशास्त्रम् आलभन्त।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes fidelity to dharma through strict adherence to śāstric procedure: even royal power is framed as legitimate only when guided by properly performed Vedic rites under qualified Brāhmaṇas.
During Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha context, the officiating Brāhmaṇas proceed with the sacrificial sequence—after duly preparing other animals, they carry out the prescribed ritual act for the sacrificial horse as well.