Shloka 8
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
वध्यमानेषु तेष्वाजौ गान्धारेषु समन््तत:
vadhyamāneṣu teṣv ājau gāndhāreṣu samantataḥ
قال فايشَمبايانا: وبينما كان أولئك المحاربون من غاندھارا يُصرَعون في المعركة من كل جانب، غدا الميدان مشهداً لذبحٍ لا ينقطع—صورةً لاندفاع الحرب القاسي، حيث يمضي واجب القتال وسط معاناةٍ واسعة الانتشار.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line underscores the grim reality of warfare: once battle is joined, violence spreads in all directions, testing the boundaries of dharma and highlighting the human cost that accompanies martial duty.
Vaiśampāyana describes a battle scene in which the Gandhāra fighters are being slain throughout the field, indicating a decisive and widespread rout or heavy casualties on all sides.