Shloka 38
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
भीष्म उवाच एवमुकक््त्वा तु राजानमिन्द्रोतो जनमेजयम् । याजयामास विधिवत् वाजिमेधेन शौनक:,भीष्मजी कहते हैं-राजन्! ऐसा कहकर शौनक इन्द्रोतने राजा जनमेजयसे विधिपूर्वक अश्वमेधयज्ञका अनुष्ठान कराया
bhīṣma uvāca evam uktvā tu rājānam indroto janamejayam | yājayāmāsa vidhivat vājimedhena śaunakaḥ ||
Bhīṣma nói: Tâu Đại vương! Nói xong như vậy với vua Janamejaya, Śaunaka—con của Indrota—liền khiến nhà vua cử hành đúng nghi thức lễ tế Aśvamedha (Mã tế), theo trọn vẹn pháp độ đã định.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma in governance: even great royal acts like the Aśvamedha should be undertaken only ‘vidhivat’—under proper guidance and prescribed procedure—showing restraint, legitimacy, and alignment with sacred law rather than personal whim.
After advising King Janamejaya, the sage Shaunaka (identified as Indrota’s son) officiates and has the king perform an Aśvamedha sacrifice according to correct ritual rules.