Shloka 36
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
अश्वमेधं क्रतुवरं नरमेधं तथैव च
aśvamedhaṃ kratuvaraṃ naramedhaṃ tathaiva ca
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “(Isinagawa niya) ang Aśvamedha, ang pinakadakila sa mga handog, at gayundin ang Naramedha.” Ipinapaalala ng linyang ito ang pagtuon ng epiko sa kapangyarihang hari na ipinahahayag sa maringal na ritwal, at kasabay nito’y nagpapahiwatig ng tensiyong etikal hinggil sa sukdulang mga ideyal ng paghahandog at sa hangganan ng dharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how kingship is portrayed through great sacrificial rites, while implicitly raising dharmic questions about the moral boundaries of ritual power—especially when rites are described in extreme terms.
Vaiśampāyana is listing major sacrifices performed—specifically the Aśvamedha, praised as a supreme royal rite, and additionally the Naramedha—within a broader account of ritual acts and their significance.