Shloka 8
अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha
Completion of the Aśvamedha
पुरा शक्रस्य यजत: सर्व ऊचुर्महर्षय: । ऋतचिविक्षु कर्मव्यग्रेषु वितते यज्ञकर्मणि
vaiśampāyana uvāca | purā śakrasya yajataḥ sarva ūcur maharṣayaḥ | ṛtvikṣu karmavyagreṣu vitate yajñakarmaṇi, rājan |
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, pada zaman dahulu ketika Śakra (Indra) tengah melaksanakan yajña, semua maharsi pun berbicara. Para ṛtvij sibuk pada tugas masing-masing, dan pekerjaan yajña berlangsung dalam bentangan yang luas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a grand Vedic sacrifice as a setting where dharma is not merely procedural; the sages’ speech and later compassion toward bound animals highlight ethical reflection within ritual action.
Vaiśampāyana recounts an ancient episode: Indra is conducting an elaborate sacrifice; seers and priests are actively performing their roles, and the story is poised to turn at the moment when animals are to be bound for the rite, prompting the sages’ concern.