Shloka 9
Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure
आगमद् द्वारकावासी ममाप्त: पुरुषो नूप । योउद्राक्षीत् पाण्डवश्रेष्ठं बहुसंग्रामकर्षितम्
āgamad dvārakāvāsī mamāptaḥ puruṣo nṛpa | yo ’drākṣīt pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaṃ bahusaṅgrāmakarśitam ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, seorang kepercayaanku, penduduk Dvārakā, datang kepadaku. Ia telah melihat dengan mata kepalanya sendiri Arjuna—yang terbaik di antara para Pāṇḍava—yang terkikis tenaganya, lemah karena beban banyak peperangan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest heroes are subject to exhaustion and decline; the epic underscores the ethical cost of prolonged warfare and the need for sober reflection after conflict.
Vaiśampāyana reports to the king that a trusted man from Dvārakā has arrived and personally witnessed Arjuna in a weakened state, worn down by many battles—setting up subsequent developments in the Ashvamedhika narrative.