Shloka 26
यज्ञवाटवैभववर्णनम् / Description of the Splendour of the Sacrificial Enclosure
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा बभ्रुवाहन:
etasminneva kāle tu sa rājā babhruvāhanaḥ
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “At that very time, that king—Babhruvāhana—(appeared/was present).” The line marks a narrative turning point, introducing the ruler whose actions will bear directly on the unfolding duties of kingship and the moral consequences surrounding the Aśvamedha events.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse itself is primarily narrative, but it underscores a dharmic pattern in the epic: pivotal moral and political consequences often hinge on the timely arrival of key agents (here, a king). It prepares the listener to evaluate forthcoming actions in terms of kṣatriya-dharma and responsibility.
Yudhiṣṭhira introduces the moment when King Babhruvāhana enters the account. This functions as a scene-setting line that signals a shift to events involving Babhruvāhana within the broader Aśvamedha-related storyline.