Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 19
Divodāsa–Mādhavī Saṃvāda: Pratardana-janma and Kanyā-niryātana (दिवोदास–माधवी संवादः / प्रतर्दन-जननम् / कन्या-निर्यातनम्)
जातो नृप सुतस्ते5यं बालो भास्करसंनिभ:। कालो गन्तुं नरश्रेष्ठ भिक्षार्थमपरं नृपम्
jāto nṛpa sutaste ’yaṃ bālo bhāskarasaṃnibhaḥ | kālo gantuṃ naraśreṣṭha bhikṣārtham aparaṃ nṛpam ||
ਨਾਰਦ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—“ਹੇ ਨਰਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਰਾਜਨ! ਤੇਰਾ ਇਹ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਜਨਮਿਆ ਹੈ—ਬਾਲਕ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਸੂਰਜ ਵਰਗਾ ਤੇਜਸਵੀ। ਹੁਣ, ਹੇ ਰਾਜਾ, ਘੋੜਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਚਨਾ ਲਈ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਨਰੇਸ਼ ਕੋਲ ਜਾਣ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames royal action as governed by kāla (the right time): personal joy (a son’s birth) is immediately linked to duty and strategic necessity—seeking resources (horses) through proper, socially sanctioned request rather than impulsive force.
Nārada informs a king that his radiant son has been born and urges him that the opportune moment has arrived to approach another ruler to solicit horses—setting up a diplomatic/strategic move connected with royal aims.