Shloka 32
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
स्थलजा जलजा ये च पशव: केचन प्रभो | सवनिव समानीतानपश्यंस्तत्र ते नृपा:,प्रभो! संसारके भीतर स्थल और जलमें उत्पन्न होनेवाले जो कोई पशु देखे या सुने गये थे, उन सबको वहाँ राजाओंने उपस्थित देखा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | sthalajā jalajā ye ca paśavaḥ kecana prabho | savaniva samānītān apaśyaṃs tatra te nṛpāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O lord, the kings there beheld assembled—brought together as if for a sacrificial rite—all manner of animals, whether born on land or in water, indeed whatever creatures were known to be seen or heard of within the world.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the vast, ordered gathering associated with royal sacrifice: a king’s rite is portrayed as encompassing the whole world’s creatures, suggesting sovereignty expressed through ritual order and responsibility rather than mere force.
During the Aśvamedha-related proceedings, the assembled kings witness an extraordinary collection of animals—land and water creatures—brought together at the ritual venue, emphasizing the scale and completeness of the ceremony.