Shloka 5

Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure

Devanagari script

युयुधानेन सहित: प्रद्मुम्नेन गदेन च । निशठेनाथ साम्बेन तथैव कृतवर्मणा

Transliteration

yuyudhānena sahitaḥ pradyumnena gadena ca | niśaṭhenātha sāmbena tathaiva kṛtavarmaṇā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Accompanied by Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki), and also by Pradyumna and Gada—together with Niśaṭha, Sāmba, and likewise Kṛtavarman—the Vṛṣṇis, foremost among beings, came to Yudhiṣṭhira, placing Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva at their head.

Word by Word

• युयुधानेन: with Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki)
• युयुधानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युयुधान
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सहितः: accompanied (together)
• सहितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रद्युम्नेन: with Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• गदेन: with Gada
• गदेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निशठेन: with Niśaṭha
• निशठेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशठ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• साम्बेन: with Sāmba
• साम्बेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम्ब
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कृतवर्मणा: with Kṛtavarman
• कृतवर्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतवर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki)
• Pradyumna
• Gada
• Niśaṭha
• Sāmba
• Kṛtavarman
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Baladeva (Balarāma)
• Vṛṣṇis
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even after victory and upheaval, dharma is upheld through humility, proper honor, and collective responsibility: leaders and allies approach the righteous king in an orderly, respectful manner, placing the highest-worthy figures at the forefront.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Vṛṣṇi heroes—Sātyaki, Pradyumna, Gada, Niśaṭha, Sāmba, and Kṛtavarman—come to Yudhiṣṭhira, with Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva leading them, indicating a formal visit of support and counsel in the Ashvamedha context.