Shloka 8
नारदकथितं माधव्याः तपश्चर्या–ययातेः स्वर्गविचारः | Nārada on Mādhavī’s Asceticism and the Scrutiny of Yayāti in Heaven
अपराण्यपि चत्वारि शतानि द्विजसत्तम | नीयमानानि संतारे हृतान्यासन् वितस्तया,'द्विजश्रेष्ठ! मार्गमें एक जगह नदीको पार करना पड़ा। इन छ: सौ घोड़ोंके साथ चार सौ और थे। नदी पार करनेके लिये ले जाये जाते समय वे चार सौ घोड़े वितस्ता (झेलम)- की प्रखर धारामें बह गये
aparāṇy api catvāri śatāni dvijasattama | nīyamānāni saṃtāre hṛtāny āsan vitastayā ||
Nārada berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik antara kaum dwija, pada suatu tempat di perjalanan ada penyeberangan sungai. Selain enam ratus ekor kuda itu, ada lagi empat ratus ekor. Ketika dibawa menyeberang di ghat, empat ratus ekor itu dihanyutkan oleh arus deras Sungai Vitastā.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even carefully planned undertakings can be undone by uncontrollable forces; the passage underscores the fragility of worldly resources and the need for prudence and humility when pursuing power or preparing for conflict.
Nārada recounts a logistical setback during a journey: while crossing the Vitastā at a ford, four hundred additional horses—beyond an earlier count of six hundred—are swept away by the river’s strong current.