Shloka 8
Śaṅkha–Likhita Upākhyāna: Daṇḍa, Confession, and the Purification of Kingship (शङ्ख-लिखितोपाख्यानम्)
“कुरुनन्दन! महाराज! पहले सर्वमेध और अश्वमेध यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान करो। उससे परम गतिको प्राप्त करोगे ।।
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Kurunandana! Mahārāja! pūrvaṃ sarvamedha-aśvamedha-yajñānām anuṣṭhānaṃ kuru. tataḥ paramāṃ gatiṃ prāpsyasi. bhrātṝś ca sarvān kratubhiḥ saṃyojya bahu-dakṣiṇaiḥ, samprāptaḥ kīrtim atulāṃ pāṇḍaveya bhaviṣyasi.
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“噢，俱卢族的欢欣者，噢，伟大的君王——先当举行萨尔瓦梅陀祭（Sarvamedha）与阿湿婆梅陀祭（Aśvamedha）。由此你将获得至高之归趣。又，噢，般度之子！若使你所有的兄弟都参与那富于厚赐（dakṣiṇā）的祭祀，你必将赢得无与伦比的声名。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should re-establish dharma after conflict through sanctioned Vedic rites and generous giving. Performing great sacrifices with abundant dakṣiṇā is presented as a means to both spiritual uplift (paramā gati) and public legitimacy (atulā kīrti), especially when the ruler involves his kin in shared religious duty.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Vaiśampāyana reports counsel directed to the Kuru king (Yudhiṣṭhira): he is urged to undertake the Sarvamedha and Aśvamedha and to engage all his brothers in richly endowed sacrifices, thereby securing supreme attainment and unmatched renown.