Shloka 7
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
निरुध्यमानस्तैश्लापि गान्धारै: पाण्डुनन्दन:
nirudhyamānas taiś cāpi gāndhāraiḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ
Vaiśampāyana said: Even as the men of Gandhāra hemmed him in and sought to restrain him, the son of Pāṇḍu held his ground—his rightful resolve tested by hostile opposition.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under pressure: when confronted by opposition, a righteous agent (here, a Pāṇḍava) is tested in composure and duty, implying that dharma is upheld not only in victory but also amid restraint and adversity.
Vaiśampāyana describes a Pāṇḍava prince being blocked or surrounded by Gandhāran forces. The line sets up a tense encounter where the hero’s movement or action is checked by adversaries, preparing for the next narrative development.