Shloka 8
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
वध्यमानेषु तेष्वाजौ गान्धारेषु समन््तत:
vadhyamāneṣu teṣv ājau gāndhāreṣu samantataḥ
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als jene Gandhāra-Krieger im Kampf ringsum niedergemacht wurden, wurde das Schlachtfeld zu einem Bild unablässigen Gemetzels—ein Abbild der harten Wucht des Krieges, in dem die Pflicht des Kampfes sich inmitten weitverbreiteten Leidens vollzieht.
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.