Shloka 7
Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure
युधिष्ठिरसमीपे तु कथान्ते मधुसूदन: । अर्जुनं कथयामास बहुसंग्रामकर्षितम्
yudhiṣṭhira-samīpe tu kathānte madhusūdanaḥ | arjunaṃ kathayāmāsa bahu-saṅgrāma-karśitam ||
যুধিষ্ঠিরের নিকটে বসে কথোপকথনের শেষে মধুসূদন অর্জুনের কথা বললেন—অসংখ্য যুদ্ধে ক্লান্ত ও ক্ষীণ হয়ে পড়েছে সে।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest heroes are subject to exhaustion and decline after prolonged violence; recognizing human limits is part of dharma, prompting rulers and elders to respond with care rather than mere expectation of endless martial strength.
After a discussion, Kṛṣṇa—sitting close to Yudhiṣṭhira—brings up Arjuna’s condition, noting that repeated warfare has left him worn down, setting a reflective tone on the costs of the recent conflicts.