Shloka 40
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
अब तुम शीघ्र ही बाहुदा नदीके तटपर जाकर विधिपूर्वक देवताओं, ऋषियों और पितरोंका तर्पण करो। भविष्यमें फिर कभी अधर्मकी ओर मन न ले जाना ।।
aba tvaṁ śīghraṁ hi bāhudā-nadīke taṭe para gatvā vidhipūrvakaṁ devatānāṁ ṛṣīṇāṁ ca pitr̥ṇāṁ ca tarpaṇaṁ kuru | bhaviṣyati punaḥ kadācit adharmasya or manasā na netavyam || tasya tad-vacanaṁ śrutvā śaṅkhasya likhitas tadā | avagāhya apagāṁ puṇyām udakārthaṁ pracakrame ||
商迦说道：“速往婆呼陀河岸，依次第如法向诸天、诸仙与祖灵行供水（tarpaṇa）。从今以后，切莫再让你的心转向不义（adharma）。”利弃多听罢商迦之言，便入那圣河之中，开始取水以备所规定的仪式。
शंख उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld not only by regret but by corrective action: one should perform proper purificatory/ancestral rites and, more importantly, resolve never to return to adharma. Ethical reform is shown as a firm mental commitment supported by disciplined practice.
Śaṅkha instructs Likhita to go immediately to the Bāhudā riverbank and perform tarpaṇa—water-offerings to gods, sages, and ancestors—following correct ritual procedure, and warns him not to incline toward unrighteousness again. Likhita obeys, entering the sacred river to fetch water and begin the rite.