Shloka 14

Āśvamedha-dīkṣā-nirdeśaḥ — Scheduling the Initiation and Assigning Protection for the Horse

Devanagari script

तमनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवता मुनिसत्तम | त्वदधीना वयं सर्वे कृष्णस्य च महात्मन:,“'मुनिश्रेष्ठ! मैं चाहता हूँ कि इसके लिये आपकी आज्ञा प्राप्त हो जाय, क्योंकि हम सब लोग आप और महात्मा श्रीकृष्णके अधीन हैं!

Transliteration

tam anujñātum icchāmi bhavatā munisattama | tvad-adhīnā vayaṁ sarve kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

ಮುನಿಸತ್ತಮ! ಇದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅನುಮತಿಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ನಾವು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅಧೀನದಲ್ಲೂ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಅಧೀನದಲ್ಲೂ ಇದ್ದೇವೆ.

Word by Word

तम्him/that (person)

अनुज्ञातुम्to permit/allow

इच्छामिI desire

भवताby you / from you (honorific)

मुनि-सत्तमO best of sages

त्वद्-अधीनाdependent on you

वयम्we

सर्वेall

कृष्णस्यof Krishna

चand

महात्मनःof the great-souled one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Kṛṣṇa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes dharmic restraint and humility: even capable figures should seek proper authorization from elders and acknowledge legitimate authority—here, the sage’s guidance and Kṛṣṇa’s moral leadership.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, speaking respectfully to a foremost sage, expresses his desire to proceed only after receiving permission, stating that everyone involved is subject to the sage’s direction and to the great-souled Kṛṣṇa.