Shloka 7
Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)
क्षमावाननपत्यश्व सत्यवाग विजितेन्द्रिय: । अतिक्रान्तेन वयसा संतापमुपजग्मिवान्,राजा अश्वपति क्षमाशील, सत्यवादी और जितेन्द्रिय होनेपर भी संतानहीन थे। बहुत अधिक अवस्था बीत जानेपर इसके कारण उनके मनमें बड़ा संताप हुआ
kṣamāvān anapatyaś ca satyavāg vijitendriyaḥ | atikrāntena vayasā santāpam upajagmivān rājā aśvapatiḥ ||
قال يودهِشْثيرا: إن الملك أشفابَتي، على ما كان عليه من حلمٍ وصبر، وصدقِ لسانٍ وضبطٍ للنفس، لم يُرزَق ولداً. ومع توالي السنين وبلوغِه من الكِبَر مبلغاً عظيماً، استبدّ به الأسى الشديد بسبب عُقمِه عن الذرية.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a person embodies royal virtues—forbearance, truthfulness, and mastery of the senses—human suffering can still arise from unfulfilled duties and desires (here, the lack of an heir). The verse highlights the tension between inner virtue and worldly circumstances, inviting reflection on endurance and right response to inevitable sorrow.
Yudhiṣṭhira introduces King Aśvapati, describing his exemplary character and then stating the problem that drives the episode: despite his virtues, he remains childless, and as time passes and he grows older, he is overcome by distress because of it.