Shloka 28
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
ददृशुस्तं नृपतयो यज्ञस्य विधिमुत्तमम् । देवेन्द्रस्येव विहितं भीमसेनेन भारत,भारत! यज्ञमें सम्मिलित होनेके लिये आये हुए राजा लोग घूम-घूमकर भीमसेनके द्वारा तैयार कराये हुए उस यज्ञमण्डपकी उत्तम निर्माण कला एवं सुन्दर सजावट देखने लगे। वह मण्डप देवराज इन्द्रकी यज्ञशालाके समान जान पड़ता था
dadṛśus taṃ nṛpatayo yajñasya vidhim uttamam | devendrasyeva vihitaṃ bhīmasenena bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The assembled kings beheld that excellent arrangement and ordinance of the sacrifice—set up by Bhīmasena, O Bhārata—appearing as though it had been fashioned like the sacrificial hall of Devendra himself. In this, the narrative underscores royal duty expressed through meticulous, reverent preparation: the outer splendor of the rite is presented as a visible sign of ordered dharma and collective participation in a legitimate yajña.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharma in a royal-sacrificial context is expressed through proper vidhi—orderly, reverent, and excellent preparation. The comparison to Indra’s hall suggests that human kings should mirror divine standards of ritual propriety and public auspiciousness.
Kings who have come to participate in the sacrifice walk about and look at the splendid sacrificial setup arranged by Bhīmasena. The pavilion and its organization appear so magnificent that it seems like Indra’s own sacrificial hall.