Shloka 7
Bhīṣma’s Admonition; Duryodhana’s Rājasūya Aspiration and the Proposal of a Vaiṣṇava-satra
स च पौरजन: सर्व: सैनिकाश्न सहस्रश: | यथोपजोषं चिक्रीडुर्वने तस्मिन् यथामरा:,वे समस्त पुरवासी और सहस्रोंकी संख्यामें आये हुए सैनिक उस वनमें अपनी-अपनी रुचिके अनुसार देवताओंके समान क्रीड़ा करने लगे
sa ca paurajanaḥ sarvaḥ sainikāś ca sahasraśaḥ | yathopajoṣaṃ cikrīḍur vane tasmin yathāmarāḥ ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。――町の人々は皆、また千人単位で集まった兵たちも、各々の好みに任せてその森で遊び戯れた。まるで神々のように、気ままに。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents enjoyment (krīḍā) as permissible when it remains orderly and aligned with one’s nature and circumstance—“according to one’s liking” (yathopajoṣam)—suggesting that pleasure is not opposed to dharma when it is measured and context-appropriate.
The citizens and thousands of accompanying soldiers enter the forest and begin to amuse themselves there, each in their preferred way, described poetically as being like the gods in their carefree sport.