Shloka 31
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
ततो जित्वा महीं कृत्स्नां रामो राजीवलोचन:
tato jitvā mahīṁ kṛtsnāṁ rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ | mahārāja! tataḥ samastaṁ pṛthivīṁ jitvā vīraḥ kamalanayanaḥ paraśurāmaḥ brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyaiś ca satkṛtaṁ sarvakāmapradaṁ cāśvamedhayajñaṁ samājahāra ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Pagkaraan nito, O dakilang hari, si Rama—matapang at may matang gaya ng lotus—matapos masakop ang buong daigdig, ay nagsagawa ng handog na Aśvamedha, isang ritwal na iginagalang kapwa ng mga Brahmin at mga Kshatriya at itinuturing na tumutupad sa lahat ng ninanais na layon. Ipinakikita ng salaysay na ang kapangyarihang pangkaharian, kapag nakamtan na, ay pinagtitibay sa pamamagitan ng ritwal at iniuukol sa kinikilalang tungkuling panrelihiyon, hindi lamang sa paghahari sa pamamagitan ng pananakop.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that worldly conquest is not presented as an end in itself; it is followed by a Vedic sacrifice that confers social-religious legitimacy. Power is framed as accountable to dharma, mediated through ritual and recognition by both Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
Bhishma narrates that Paraśurāma (Rama), after conquering the whole earth, performs the Aśvamedha sacrifice—an eminent royal rite—described as honored by the leading social orders and as capable of fulfilling aims and desires.