Shloka 8

Araṇi Lost to the Deer: Pāṇḍavas Pursue to Preserve Agnihotra (अरणी-हरण प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

अपत्योत्पादनार्थ च तीव्रं नियममास्थित: । काले परिमिताहारो ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रिय:,अतः उन्होंने संतानकी उत्पत्तिके लिये कठोर नियमोंका आश्रय लिया। वे निश्चित समयपर थोड़ा-सा भोजन करते और ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन करते हुए इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखते थे

Transliteration

apatyotpādanārthaṃ ca tīvraṃ niyamam āsthitaḥ | kāle parimitāhāro brahmacārī jitendriyaḥ ||

Translation

For the sake of begetting offspring, he undertook a rigorous discipline. He ate only a measured amount at fixed times, lived in celibate restraint, and kept his senses under firm control—showing that the pursuit of lineage was to be governed by self-mastery rather than impulse.

Word by Word

अपत्यoffspring

उत्पादनार्थम्for the purpose of producing

चand

तीव्रम्severe

नियमम्vow/discipline

आस्थितःhaving undertaken/observing

कालेat the proper time

परिमिताहारःone of measured food-intake

ब्रह्मचारीcelibate/student observing brahmacarya

जितेन्द्रियःhaving conquered the senses; self-controlled

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even aims connected with family and lineage (progeny) should be pursued through niyama—regulated conduct—marked by moderation in food, celibate restraint, and mastery over the senses; ethical ends require disciplined means.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira describes (or refers to) a person who, desiring offspring, adopts strict observances: eating sparingly at set times, maintaining brahmacarya, and controlling the senses, indicating a deliberate, dharma-governed approach to begetting children.