Shloka 24
The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā
स एकदा महाराज विचरन् मृगयां वने । वृत: कतिपयामात्यैरश्वमारुह्य सैन्धवम् ॥ २३ ॥ प्रगृह्य रुचिरं चापं शरांश्च परमाद्भुतान् । दंशितोऽनुमृगं वीरो जगाम दिशमुत्तराम् ॥ २४ ॥
sa ekadā mahārāja vicaran mṛgayāṁ vane vṛtaḥ katipayāmātyair aśvam āruhya saindhavam
Wahai Raja Parīkṣit, pahlawan Sudyumna pada suatu ketika, bersama beberapa menteri dan sahabat, menunggang kuda dari wilayah Sindhu lalu masuk ke rimba untuk berburu. Dengan zirah, busur yang indah dan anak panah yang menakjubkan, dia mengejar binatang hingga sampai ke bahagian utara rimba itu.
FAQs
This verse depicts a king going to the forest for hunting with ministers, showing a royal practice of the time; the Bhāgavatam often uses such scenes to set up later moral and spiritual consequences that arise from intense pursuit and worldly eagerness.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
It warns how strong eagerness in pursuit (even of a harmless goal) can carry one off course; a devotee applies restraint, mindfulness, and higher purpose so that desire does not dictate direction.