Shloka 8
Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
एतत् प्राप्तमहं मन्ये कार्यमात्ययिकं हि नः । राष्ट्र तस्याभियास्यामो बहुधान्यसमाकुलम्
etat prāptam ahaṃ manye kāryam ātyayikaṃ hi naḥ | rāṣṭra tasya abhiyāsyāmo bahudhānya-samākulam |
Vaiśampāyana dit : «J’estime que l’heure est venue d’agir, car c’est pour nous un devoir pressant. Marchons maintenant sur son royaume, riche et foisonnant d’abondantes récoltes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethic of timely action: when a duty becomes urgent, hesitation is treated as a failure of responsibility. It frames decision-making in terms of kārya (what must be done) and ātyayika (immediacy), emphasizing resolve and readiness.
The speaker signals that circumstances have ripened for immediate action and proposes advancing into another ruler’s territory, described as plentiful in grain—suggesting a strategic move aimed at resources and advantage in an unfolding conflict.