Shloka 16
Kṛṣṇa Visits Indraprastha; Kuntī’s Remembrance; Kālindī and Further Marriages
तान् निन्यु: किङ्करा राज्ञे मेध्यान् पर्वण्युपागते । तृट्परीत: परिश्रान्तो बिभत्सुर्यमुनामगात् ॥ १६ ॥
tān ninyuḥ kiṅkarā rājñe medhyān parvaṇy upāgate tṛṭ-parītaḥ pariśrānto bibhatsur yamunām agāt
ਯੱਗ ਲਈ ਯੋਗ ਉਹ ਮਾਰੇ ਹੋਏ ਜਾਨਵਰ, ਖ਼ਾਸ ਪੁਰਬ ਨੇੜੇ ਆਉਣ ਤੇ ਨੌਕਰ ਰਾਜਾ ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਕੋਲ ਲੈ ਗਏ। ਫਿਰ ਤ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਥਕਾਵਟ ਨਾਲ ਘਿਰਿਆ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਯਮੁਨਾ ਦੇ ਕੰਢੇ ਗਿਆ।
As Śrīla Prabhupāda often explained, the kṣatriyas, or warriors, would hunt in the forest for several purposes: to practice their fighting skills, to control the population of ferocious beasts, who were a threat to human beings, and to provide animals for Vedic sacrifices. The killed animals would be given new bodies by the power of the sacrifices. Since priests no longer have that power, the sacrifices would now constitute mere killing and are thus forbidden.
FAQs
This verse notes that on an auspicious parva day, certain persons were brought to the king as “medhya”—fit to be purified through prescribed rites—highlighting dharmic attention to ritual cleanliness and auspicious timing.
The verse states he was overcome by thirst and fatigue, so he went to the Yamunā for relief—an immediate narrative transition that sets up the next events in the episode.
Honor sacred times with intentional purification—externally through good habits and internally through prayer and restraint—while also caring for the body’s needs (rest, water) so dharma can be followed steadily.