Shloka 2

समयं वाजिमेधस्य विदित्वा पुरुषर्षभ: । यथोक्तो धर्मपुत्रेण प्रव्रजन्‌ स्वपुरी प्रति,उनके द्वारका जाते समय धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिने जैसी बात कही थी, उसके अनुसार अश्वमेध यज्ञका समय निकट जानकर पुरुषोत्तम श्रीकृष्ण पहले ही उपस्थित हो गये

samayaṁ vājimedhasya viditvā puruṣarṣabhaḥ | yathokto dharmaputreṇa pravrajan svapurīṁ prati ||

Vaiśampāyana said: Knowing that the time for the Aśvamedha sacrifice had arrived, the best of men set out toward his own city, acting in accordance with what Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) had previously instructed.

समयम्time, occasion
समयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसमय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वाजिमेधस्यof the horse-sacrifice (Aśvamedha)
वाजिमेधस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootवाजिमेध
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
विदित्वाhaving known
विदित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
पुरुषर्षभःthe bull among men, best of men
पुरुषर्षभः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुषर्षभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथोक्तःas stated, as instructed
यथोक्तः:
TypeAdjective
Rootयथोक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धर्मपुत्रेणby Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)
धर्मपुत्रेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मपुत्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
प्रव्रजन्departing, setting out
प्रव्रजन्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र√व्रज्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
स्वपुरीम्his own city
स्वपुरीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वपुरी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
प्रतिtowards
प्रति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रति

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
D
Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
A
Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
S
Svapurī (Dvārakā, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights dharma as reliability and timely action: a noble person honors prior commitments (yathoktaḥ) and supports righteous public rites by arriving at the proper time (samayaṁ), reinforcing ethical leadership after conflict.

As preparations for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha approach, Kṛṣṇa, having understood the appointed time, proceeds toward his own city in accordance with Yudhiṣṭhira’s earlier words—implying his prompt presence and support for the sacrifice.