Shloka 17

Devanagari script

परया भारतमश्रेष्ठ पूजया समवस्थितौ । ततस्ताभ्यामनुज्ञातो ययौ येन हयो गत:

Transliteration

parayā bhāratam-śreṣṭha pūjayā samavasthitau | tatas tābhyām anujñāto yayau yena hayo gataḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O best of the Bhāratas, the two of them stood engaged in the highest reverential worship. Then, having received their permission, he departed by the very route along which the sacrificial horse had gone.

Word by Word

परयाby excellent/supreme

भारतO Bharata

मश्रेष्ठO best

पूजयाwith worship/honour

समवस्थितौthe two (were) present/standing (ready)

ततःthen/thereupon

ताभ्याम्by those two

अनुज्ञातःhaving been permitted/allowed

ययौwent

येनby which/along which (way)

हयःthe horse

गतःhad gone

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhārata (addressee: Janamejaya implied by context)

haya (the Aśvamedha horse)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic propriety: even after being honored with supreme worship, one should act with restraint and depart only after receiving due permission, respecting ritual order and social etiquette.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two persons are described as remaining engaged in the highest form of worship; afterward, the departing figure takes leave with their consent and proceeds along the same path taken earlier by the sacrificial horse of the Aśvamedha.