Shloka 8

शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort

Devanagari script

उपस्थितश्न॒ कालोडयमभितो वर्तते हय: । माघी च पौर्णमासीयं मास: शेषो वृकोदर,“वृकोदर! इधर यज्ञ आरम्भ करनेका समय भी निकट आ गया है। घोड़ा भी पास ही है। यह माघ-मासकी पूर्णिमा आ रही है, अब बीचमें केवल फाल्गुनका एक मास शेष है

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | upasthitaḥ kālo 'yam abhito vartate hayaḥ | māghī ca paurṇamāsīyaṃ māsaḥ śeṣo vṛkodara ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “The appointed time is now close at hand, and the sacrificial horse is nearby. The full-moon day of Māgha is approaching; only one month remains, O Vṛkodara.” In context, the words urge timely, disciplined action for the Aśvamedha—an act meant to restore order and legitimacy after war, emphasizing readiness, proper observance of ritual time, and responsibility to dharma.

Word by Word

उपस्थितःpresent, arrived, near

कालःtime

अयम्this

अभितःaround, on all sides

वर्ततेis, exists, proceeds

हयःhorse

माघीbelonging to Māgha (month)

चand

पौर्णमासीयम्full-moon (day), pertaining to Paurṇamāsī

मासःmonth

शेषःremaining

वृकोदरO Vṛkodara (Bhīma)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Vṛkodara (Bhīma)

haya (the Aśvamedha horse)

Māgha (month)

Paurṇamāsī (full-moon observance)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kāla (right timing) and preparedness: dharmic action—especially public, legitimizing rites like the Aśvamedha—should be undertaken with attentiveness to auspicious time, proper resources (the horse), and disciplined readiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana informs Vṛkodara (Bhīma) that the time for beginning the Aśvamedha is near: the sacrificial horse is close by, the Māgha full moon is approaching, and only one month remains before the intended commencement.