Shloka 5

अश्वमेधावसानम् — Dakṣiṇā-vibhāga and Avabhṛtha

Completion of the Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

यदा युधिष्छिरो राजा भीमार्जुनपुर:सर: । सदृशो देवराजेन समृद्धा विक्रमेण च,भीम और अर्जुनको आगे रखकर राजा युधिष्छिर भी समृद्धि और पराक्रमकी दृष्टिसे देवराज इन्द्रके ही तुल्य थे

Transliteration

yadā yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhīmārjunapuraḥsaraḥ | sadṛśo devarājena samṛddho vikrameṇa ca ||

Translation

Janamejaya said: “At that time King Yudhiṣṭhira, with Bhīma and Arjuna leading before him, was comparable to Indra, the king of the gods—equal in prosperity and in heroic prowess.”

Word by Word

यदाwhen

युधिष्ठिरःYudhiṣṭhira

राजाking

भीम-अर्जुन-पुरःसरःhaving Bhīma and Arjuna in front (led by them)

सदृशःsimilar, equal

देवराजेनwith the king of gods (Indra)

समृद्धःprosperous, endowed (with prosperity)

विक्रमेणby valor, by prowess

चand

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Janamejaya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Bhīma

Arjuna

Indra (Devarāja)

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 presents an ideal of righteous kingship: when a dharmic ruler is supported by capable protectors, his reign manifests both prosperity (samṛddhi) and strength (vikrama), becoming ‘Indra-like’—a model of ordered, protected, and flourishing society.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira’s stature at that time: with Bhīma and Arjuna at the forefront as his leading champions, Yudhiṣṭhira appears equal to Indra in wealth and heroic power, emphasizing the Pāṇḍavas’ consolidated authority and splendor.