Shloka 9
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
अश्रमेधे हयं मेध्यमुत्सूष्टं रक्षिभि्वृतम् । पितुर्मे यज्ञविघ्नार्थमहरत् पापनिश्चय:,“मेरे पिताजी अश्वमेधयज्ञकी दीक्षा ले चुके थे। उसमें रक्षकोंसे घिरा हुआ पवित्र अश्व छोड़ा गया था। इस पापपूर्ण विचारवाले दुष्टात्माने पिताजीके यज्ञमें विघ्न डालनेके लिये उस अश्वको भी चुरा लिया था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: aśvamedhe hayaṃ medhyam utsṛṣṭaṃ rakṣibhir vṛtam | pitur me yajñavighnārtham aharat pāpaniścayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Ketika ayahku telah menjalani dikṣā untuk upacara Aśvamedha, kuda suci dilepas dengan penjagaan ketat. Namun orang jahat yang telah bertekad pada dosa itu merampasnya demi menghalangi yajña ayahku.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Deliberately obstructing a sacred duty (yajña) is portrayed as a grave ethical failing: the verse marks the thief as pāpaniścaya—one firmly resolved on wrongdoing—highlighting that intent (niścaya) intensifies moral culpability.
During the performance of an Aśvamedha, the consecrated horse—ritually released and guarded—gets stolen by a malicious person specifically to disrupt the speaker’s father’s sacrifice.