Shloka 25

Devanagari script

अयं यज्ञहरोऽस्माकमनेनाश्वोऽपनीयते।इति ते सर्वभूतानि निघ्नन्ति सगरात्मजा:।।1.39.25।।

Transliteration

ayaṁ yajñaharo 'smākam anenāśvo 'panīyate |

iti te sarvabhūtāni nighnanti sagarātmajāḥ || 1.39.25 ||

Translation

‘ਇਹੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਯਜ्ञ ਦਾ ਨਾਸ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ; ਇਸੇ ਨੇ ਸਾਡਾ ਅਸ਼ਵ ਅਪਹਰਣ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ’—ਇਉਂ ਸਮਝ ਕੇ ਸਗਰ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਸਭ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

अयम्this (man)

यज्ञहरःthe sacrifice-stealer

अस्माकम्of us/our

अनेनby him

अश्वःthe horse

अपनीयतेis being carried off/stolen

इतिthus (saying)

तेthey

सर्वभूतानिall beings

निघ्नन्तिthey strike down/kill

सगरात्मजाःSagara’s sons

Context

"O child, O son of the Kakutsthas, the great charioteer Anshuman (who can fight with eleven thousand charioteers), wielding a strong bow followed the sacrificial horse (in order to protect it) in compliance with Sagara's wish.

Characters & Entities

Sagara’s sons

Sacrifice (yajña)

Sacrificial horse (aśva)

All beings (sarvabhūtāni)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma demands truth and restraint: acting on suspicion and anger—without certainty—leads to adharma, especially when it results in harm to the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

The petitioners report the sons of Sagara’s rationale: believing someone stole the sacrificial horse, they indiscriminately kill beings during the search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights the absence of discernment (viveka); it implicitly upholds the virtue of careful judgment before punishment.