Shloka 2

Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse

Devanagari script

ते समेत्य यथान्यायं प्रत्युद्याता दिदृक्षया । ते समेत्य यथाधर्म पाण्डवा वृष्णिभि: सह

Transliteration

te sametya yathānyāyaṃ pratyudyātā didṛkṣayā | te sametya yathādharma pāṇḍavā vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Sie versammelten sich in gebührender Weise und zogen hinaus, um sie zu begrüßen, voller Verlangen, sie zu sehen. So brachen die Pāṇḍavas, im Einklang mit dem Dharma vereint, zusammen mit den Vṛṣṇis auf, um sie zu empfangen.“

Word by Word

तेthey

समेत्यhaving come together / having assembled

यथाas, according to

अन्यायम्improperly / contrary to propriety (lit. improper rule)

प्रत्युद्याताhaving set out to meet (them) / gone forth in welcome

दिदृक्षयाwith the desire to see

तेthey

समेत्यhaving come together / having assembled

यथाas, according to

अधर्मunrighteousness / contrary to dharma

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas

वृष्णिभिःwith the Vrishnis

सहtogether with

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍavas

Vṛṣṇis

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that even in moments of excitement and reunion, actions should be guided by nyāya (proper procedure) and dharma (duty). Ethical conduct is shown through orderly, respectful reception rather than impulsive behavior.

What is happening in the narrative?

Those present assemble and go out to welcome others, motivated by the desire to see them. The Pāṇḍavas, accompanied by the Vṛṣṇis, proceed to receive the arriving party in a manner consistent with social and moral norms.