Shloka 8

Devanagari script

अस्माकमपि वार्ष्णेय वने विचरतां तदा । न तथा प्रणयो राज्ये यथा सम्प्रति वर्तते

Transliteration

asmākam api vārṣṇeya vane vicaratāṃ tadā | na tathā praṇayo rājye yathā samprati vartate ||

Translation

Ô Vārṣṇeya ! Même pour nous, lorsque nous errions alors dans la forêt, l’attachement au royaume n’était pas aussi fort qu’il l’est à présent.

Word by Word

अस्माकम्of us/our

अपिalso/even

वार्ष्णेयO Vārṣṇeya (descendant of Vṛṣṇi)

वनेin the forest

विचरताम्while (we were) roaming

तदाthen/at that time

नnot

तथाso/that much/in that way

प्रणयःaffection/attachment

राज्येin the kingdom/royal power

यथाas/like

सम्प्रतिnow/at present

वर्ततेexists/prevails/is found

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nakula

Kṛṣṇa (Vārṣṇeya)

forest (vana)

kingship/kingdom (rājya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts earlier detachment during exile with the present intensity of desire for rightful rule, highlighting how circumstances and duty can sharpen one’s commitment to political responsibility without necessarily reducing ethical awareness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula addresses Kṛṣṇa, recalling the Pandavas’ forest years and observing that their attachment to regaining the kingdom is stronger now than it was during exile—reflecting the mounting urgency of the impending conflict and the demand for justice.