PURPORT

As the brahmanas, the vipras had a right to be subsidized by the state, and similarly the state executive head had the right to collect taxes and fines from the citizens. After the Battle of Kuruksetra the state treasury was exhausted, and therefore there was no surplus fund except the fund from tax collection and fines. Such funds were sufficient only for the state budget, and having no excess fund, the King was anxious to get more wealth in some other way in order to perform the horse sacrifice. Maharaja Yudhisthira wanted to perform this sacrifice under the instruction of Bhismadeva.