Shloka 7
Aśvamedha-saṃbhāra: Return of the Horse, Auspicious Timing, and Construction of the Yajña Enclosure
युधिष्ठिरसमीपे तु कथान्ते मधुसूदन: । अर्जुनं कथयामास बहुसंग्रामकर्षितम्,भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण युधिष्ठिरके पास बैठकर थोड़ी देरतक बातचीत करते रहे। उसीमें उन्होंने बताया--'अर्जुन बहुत-से युद्धोंमें शत्रुओंका सामना करनेके कारण दुर्बल हो गये हैं!
yudhiṣṭhira-samīpe tu kathānte madhusūdanaḥ | arjunaṃ kathayāmāsa bahu-saṅgrāma-karśitam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When the conversation had come to its close, Madhusūdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), seated near Yudhiṣṭhira, spoke about Arjuna—how he had been worn down and weakened by facing many battles.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest heroes are subject to exhaustion and decline after prolonged violence; recognizing human limits is part of dharma, prompting rulers and elders to respond with care rather than mere expectation of endless martial strength.
After a discussion, Kṛṣṇa—sitting close to Yudhiṣṭhira—brings up Arjuna’s condition, noting that repeated warfare has left him worn down, setting a reflective tone on the costs of the recent conflicts.