Shloka 8
Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse
Devanagari script
ततस्तत् परमाश्चर्य विचित्र महदद्भुतम्
Transliteration
tatastat paramāścarya vicitra mahadadbhutam
Translation
Then there occurred something supremely astonishing—strange, vast, and truly wondrous—drawing all attention by its extraordinary nature.
Word by Word
ततःthen; thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (पञ्चमी-तसिल्)
तत्that (thing)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
परमाश्चर्यmost wondrous; supremely astonishing
परमाश्चर्य:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम + आश्चर्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
विचित्रvariegated; strange; remarkable
विचित्र:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविचित्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
महत्great
महत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
अद्भुतम्a marvel; wonderful (thing)
अद्भुतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootअद्भुत
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic motif that extraordinary, awe-inspiring events can mark turning points in dharmic narratives, prompting attentiveness, humility, and careful interpretation rather than rash judgment.
Vaiśampāyana signals a transition: after the preceding events, something exceptionally marvelous and unusual occurs, preparing the listener for an important development in the Ashvamedhika Parva storyline.